The garden at Mottisfont

Close up of pink and yellow dahlias in Mottisfont's walled kitchen garden with open white painted double gates and a high brick wall in the background — New dahlia displays in Mottisfont's walled kitchen garden | © National Trust / Joanna Crosse

Discover a garden of ancient trees, babbling brooks and rolling lawns. Carpets of spring bulbs, walled gardens, a world-famous collection of once-flowering roses, rich autumn foliage and a colourful, scented winter garden create a feast for the senses all year round.

Step into the gardens at Mottisfont

The abundant spring that gave Mottisfont its name is now an ornamental feature of the garden. Tributaries of the River Test flow through the grounds, too. Follow paths beside the waterways to spot trout basking and swans gliding.

As you approach the house, an enormous tree catches the eye – seeming to dwarf the building from some angles. This huge London plane is thought to be the largest of its kind in Britain, and forms part of the National Collection of plane trees which stand in the grounds.

The garden is home to many other fine specimen trees, including grand horse chestnuts and stately oaks, planted by Georgian owners. Twentieth-century features include an elegant double row of pollarded limes and a circle of beech trees.

Guided garden walks

Our volunteer Garden Guides lead free themed daily walks, including a Welcome Walk which provides a general introduction for first-time visitors, alongside more in-depth history and seasonal garden walks. The Welcome Team at visitor reception will be able to advise what’s on offer when you visit.

Autumn in the garden

Stately trees around the grounds crown themselves in red, orange and gold. The great plane beside the house creates a dazzling display. Chestnut trees glow with yellow-orange leaves, and tulip trees turn pale gold.

In the walled gardens, our once-flowering roses have left behind colourful, ornamental fruits, or 'heps', which brighten the borders at this time of year and provide over-wintering birds with an important source of food.

This year the kitchen garden is home to a colourful display of dahlias – introduced by new head gardener Rob Ballard. The stunning displays welcome you into the walled garden and look wonderful against a backdrop of fruit and vegetables.

From November the winter garden begins to come into season, with displays of colourful berries.

The Kitchen Garden

Rediscovered and restored in 2018, the innovative Kitchen Garden embodies Mottisfont’s medieval history and productive past. Everything planted here is culinary, medicinal or edible, designed to educate and inspire.

Raised beds are planted with a mix of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers from spring to autumn. Surrounding a central water feature, the beds are constructed of brick and flint to reflect materials found elsewhere at Mottisfont. Running the full length of the garden are two cloister-esque wooden pergola walkways crafted from re-purposed Hampshire chestnut. These are planted with a mix of sweet peas, grape vines and gourds.