Explore gardens and parklands
We care for more than 200 gardens and parks. From kitchen gardens full of fruit and veg to historic parkland, there’s something for everyone.
Explore bee-friendly gardens
Bumblebees, honeybees and solitary bees alike can't resist a plot rich in pollen and nectar. Many of the gardens we care for are planted with these busy pollinators in mind and are full of blossoming trees and herbaceous borders. Here's our pick of the most bee-friendly gardens for you to visit.
- Acorn Bank, Cumbria
- The orchard at Acorn Bank has a collection of more than 100 local apple varieties which create a feast for bees when they blossom. Look out for the beehives at the top of the orchard – these were established by Penrith Beekeepers, who use them to teach beekeeping skills.Visit Acorn Bank
- Attingham Park, Shropshire
- Attingham's Walled Garden and orchard once provided the Berwick family with a constant supply of fruit, flowers, vegetables and honey. They're still home to the Attingham bees – spot them hard at work in the observation hive and head into the Kitchen Garden to see the Grade II-listed Georgian bee house.Visit Attingham Park
- Beningbrough Hall, Yorkshire
- Beningbrough’s flower gardens are home to several varieties of bee, including red-tailed and buff-tailed bumblebees. Take a wander past the beehive by the south border to spot the busy residents buzzing among the flowers.Visit Beningbrough Hall
- Bodnant Garden, Conwy
- Bodnant Garden features two colourful meadows: Old Park Meadow and Furnace Meadow. They bloom with a variety of wildflowers, which create perfect habitats for bees.Visit Bodnant Garden
- Chartwell, Kent
- Beekeeping has been a part of Chartwell since Sir Winston Churchill started the tradition here. There are six beehives in the private orchard, looked after by trained volunteers who harvest the surplus honey. Watch buzzing bees along the Golden Rose Avenue in summer – the catmint is irresistible to them.Visit Chartwell
- Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
- Stroll around the orchard in the walled Kitchen Garden at Clumber and look out for the beehives hidden among the trees and blossom. The orchards have over 58 local varieties of apples which attract bees and other pollinators.Visit Clumber Park
- Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire
- Stroll among the carpets of bluebells, crocuses and daffodils as they greet the first bees emerging after winter. In summer, 4 acres of flood meadow come alive with wild flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.Visit Colby Woodland Garden
- Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk
- Between spring’s cherry blossom and summer’s lavender, Felbrigg’s bees have plenty of pollen to get stuck into. Keep an eye out for them humming away in The Bacchus Garden, which supports pollinators all year round with its seasonal blooms.Visit Felbrigg Hall
- Greenway, Devon
- Greenway has its own beehives, which are located across its colourful gardens. The bees play an important role in creating homes and food for wildlife by pollinating the fruits, flowers and trees that grow there.Visit Greenway
- Hare Hill, Cheshire
- The tranquil Walled Garden at Hare Hill is full of buzzing bees. When you visit you'll see that the garden is planted with predominantly white flowers, including unusual varieties of iris, poppy, coneflower, lupin and phlox. The bees definitely have a favourite plant though – the white catmint.Visit Hare Hill
- Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
- When Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli lived here, Hughenden had beehives to help the walled garden and orchard produce more fruit and veg. Our volunteer beekeepers keep that tradition alive today, while the garden team care for the varieties of old rose that Mary Ann Disraeli planted in the parterre – an ideal source of nectar for the bees.Visit Hughenden
- Killerton, Devon
- As a West Country estate, Killerton has many acres of traditional orchard which help produce its award-winning cider. Watch bees savouring the apple blossom in spring or pop in over summer to see the wildflower meadows buzzing with pollinators.Visit Killerton
- Kingston Lacy, Dorset
- The wildflowers in Kingston Lacy's sunken garden and the summer meadows around the estate attract many bees. The honey they produce is used in the café and sold in the shop.Visit Kingston Lacy
- Oxburgh Estate, Norfolk
- Listen out for the gentle hum of bees as they go from flower to flower at Oxburgh Hall. You'll find many buzzing around the orchard thanks to the long wildflower meadow and herbaceous border.Visit Oxburgh Estate
- Plas yn Rhiw, Gwynedd
- The organic garden attracts lots of bees thanks to its seasonal blooms. The flowers provide year-round support to pollinators, making it a perfect spot for bee enthusiasts.Visit Plas yn Rhiw
- Speke Hall, Liverpool
- Spot a variety of bees in Speke Hall's gardens, including cuckoo bees, honeybees and wild bees. Many of them reside in the hives near the Kitchen Garden, making the most of the blossom and wild flowers here.Visit Speke Hall
- Springhill, County Londonderry
- Springhill's gardens provide a sanctuary for bees. The colourful wildflower meadow and rose-filled Dutch garden serve as crucial source of nectar.Visit Springhill
- Tredegar House, Newport
- The Orchard Garden at Tredegar is the largest of the three gardens and hosts a range of bee-friendly plants and flowers. Wander through the Laundry Garden in the Home Farm, filled with lavender and hydrangea plants, and see if you can spot the rare brown-banded carder bee.Visit Tredegar House
- Trengwainton, Cornwall
- There are colonies of bees all over Trengwainton – including in the restored Victorian bee house and the private beehives. The gardeners care for the Kitchen Garden with bees in mind, planting flowers and vegetables side by side. They even feed the colonies a sugar solution over winter, to support them during the cold months.Visit Trengwainton
- Wordsworth House and Garden, Cumbria
- The walled heritage garden at Wordsworth House is a haven for bees. It's home to a variety of 18th-century fruits, flowers, and herbs, which are grown using organic principles and provide plenty of nectar.Visit Wordsworth House
You might also be interested in
Best places to see blossom
From ornamental magnolias in gardens to blackthorn scattered across the countryside, discover some of the best places to see blossom in our care and beyond.
Article
Gardens with magnolias
Discover our top picks for places to see magnolias this spring. Welcome in the season with a stroll under these large, showy flowers that bloom in shades of pink and white.
Best places to see bluebells
Discover some of the best places to see bluebells in the UK, from trails through ancient woodlands to valleys and nature reserves.
Where to see daffodils
Typically flowering from February to May, the daffodil's trumpet-like blooms announce spring's arrival. Find out where to see the best daffodil displays at the woodlands, gardens and parks in our care.
Article
Famous gardens
We care for hundreds of historic gardens, encompassing more than 500 years of history and a range of garden styles and fashions. Learn about the most famous and significant gardens you can visit.
Article
Secret gardens to explore
Find out which of the gardens we care for have their own 'secret' gardens hidden within them. Search for a bear's hut and hunt for statues as you explore.