Explore the garden at Lyme

Lyme Hall reflected in the wintery Lake at Lyme, Cheshire — The exterior of Lyme, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Derek Hatton

The historic garden at Lyme offers variation throughout the seasons so it’s always a good time to visit. Nestled on the edge of the Peak District, Lyme's garden is the second highest in the National Trust which means flowers often bloom later and last longer at Lyme.

A garden for all seasons

Visiting the garden at Lyme is an ever changing experience and no two visits are the same. Under the care of Head Gardener Stefan with the garden team, the garden transforms seasonally with no two scheme exactly the same.

Explore the garden in winter

With frosty mornings and a windswept moorland backdrop, the views of Lyme from the garden terrace are dramatic and ever changing during the colder months. Winter is a time to see the bare bones of the garden. The structure is laid out for all to see and you can appreciate the formal geometry around the house with straight edges, columns of yew and clipped hedges demonstrating man’s dominance in comparison to the wild moors and parkland beyond.

Flower is rare in the winter, and so those that do dare brave the cold are all the more valued. Many are also highly scented, evolved to tempt sleepy bumblebees on mild days. Among the scents of the winter garden, the flowers on the way to the Vicary Gibbs garden are among the sweetest. Pass sweet smelling pink-tipped Daphne (Daphne bholua) overlooking the Italian Garden whilst in the Vicary Gibbs area, named after the famous gardener and close friend of the 2nd Lord Newton of Lyme, find the mixture of sweet smelling Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) glisten in the sun and spicy smelling Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’) that you can only see this time of year.

White, bell shaped snowdrops are to peeking out of the ground in Lyme, Cheshire — In January and February, keep an eye out for the first winter iris and snowdrops starting to peek through. | © National Trust Images Claire Sargent

See snowdrops in the garden

Despite the cold, snowdrops can be found thriving in pastures, woods, gardens and orchards across the UK from January to early March. Their white petals and green leaves brighten the winter months and signal that warmer seasons are on their way. See a drift of snowdrops around the Lake in the garden at Lyme, sure to lift your spirits.

Other winter delights to look out for

Flower is rare in the winter, and so those that do dare brave the cold are all the more valued. Look out for these winter delights on your next walk

Witch Hazel in the garden at Lyme, Cheshire | © Victoria Baker

Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’)

Known for its healing properties, Witch Hazel brings colour and scent to the garden from January onwards with its spicy fragrance and firework like flowers in shades of dark red and bright yellows.

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Family fun in the garden

Follow the winding paths to dicover what's growing in the garden this season. There are lots of buggy-friendly paths in the garden – ask at the Ticket Office for more information.

'50 things to do before you're 11 3/4'

You can complete many of the '50 things' in the garden at Lyme. Here's some of our favourites -

No. 1 Get to know a tree - with the changing Autumn colours, head to the Top Lawn to find your favourite tree
No. 6 Go welly wandering - pull on your wellington boots and explore. Splash around in puddles, squelch through some mud.
No. 15 - Eat a picnic in the wild - before you set off, it’s time to raid the fridge. It’s amazing what you can create with just a few ingredients. Sandwiches, salads, pasta and fruit all make for a tasty lunch – and they’re easy to carry too.

More family fun this way