New flower garden to bring surprise, theatre and delight to almost complete Georgian estate, the final work of ‘Capability’ Brown

The landscapes of the estate, near Leominster, were meticulously designed by ‘Capability’ Brown and his son in law, Henry Holland, to harmonise with the mansion house and Triumphal Arch. But over time, some of the garden’s important heritage features have become obscured or hidden by later alterations.

Now, following extensive research, and using funding from National Trust supporters and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, work has started to recall Berrington’s horticultural heyday with a contemporary garden drawing inspiration from and on the footprint of one shown in a 19th-century historic map.

Beds filled with a mix of over 53,000 new flowering plants and bulbs will bring more flowers than ever before to Berrington and give almost year-round interest. National Trust landscape architect Ed Higgins and Senior Gardener David Thresher aim to create a sense of theatre with scent, colour, structure and depth, evoking the feeling of an 18th- and 19th-century garden experience.

Three new wisteria ‘umbrellas’ will echo the Georgian love of spectacle and the historic Wisteria Walk will be restored and extended to run the southern length of the walled garden, for magnificent spring displays. A new fully accessible path network will ensure everyone can enjoy exploring.

As work progresses, the path leading to the hall will be realigned so that visitors can move around the grounds as the Georgians did, enjoying views of the parkland as its designers intended. An evergreen hedge will be planted to hide the new flower garden from arriving visitors, so that they discover it as a colourful surprise at the end of their circuit.

Ana Vaughan, Project Manager for the Flower Garden project said,

"To be in a position where we are re-creating heritage and increasing plant species with the new flower garden is an amazing opportunity for visitors to see an almost completely lawned area become a beautiful flower filled site, teeming with pollinators. We cannot wait for people to be able to visit the garden together and hear what they think as the garden matures.

“We’re particularly keen to see what they think in the future of the ‘purple canopies of wonder’ we are planning with the restoration of the original Wisteria Walk and new wisteria umbrellas and the most delightful plant selection ever. After all, who doesn’t find joy in flowers?

“In modern times, Berrington hasn’t been known as a garden with strong seasonal horticultural appeal but this transformation is set to make it an absolute must-see for garden lovers.”

As the work takes place over the next few months, visitors are invited to step into the shoes of a garden designer. Information panels explain the work taking place and ask visitors to think about how they might design a garden and perhaps take inspiration from what’s happening. A garden surveyor's office has been set up in the stables, filled with books and equipment that a garden surveyor might use when planning their latest creation, as well as bell tents in the walled garden filled with books about gardens and garden design.