Things to see and do at The Weir Garden

Summer wildlife in the garden

From June onwards the garden is alive with all sorts of wildlife. With warmer weather and longer days, there's plenty to see and explore.

Butterflies and beasties

The garden is a haven for bees, butterflies and mini-beasts; we plant a large variety of wildlife-encouraging flowers as well as leaving large parts of the garden natural with all sorts of wildflowers and long grass. If the trees in the garden need a branch removing, we’ll leave the bark where it drops, as long as it is safe to do so, as a home for mini beasts.

Inside the walled garden the herbs and shrubs encourage hundreds of bees, we even have our own hives here and sometimes sell honey on site. This year the garden has hosted hundreds of tent caterpillars; an incredible sight which will stop you in your tracks.

Birdlife

All the insects in the garden encourage many bird varieties in summer. Surveys show we have over 70 species of birds visiting the garden. Over the summer, many of the birds will be feeding their young; you can see them in the garden collecting worms and bugs as well as seeds from the feeders. Birds of prey circle the wider fields and if you’re lucky, you may spot a buzzard, red kite or sparrowhawk hunting. On the river, look out for mallards, mute swans and goosanders daily and keep your eyes peeled for more unusual birds passing through.

Mammals

The Weir consists of many small winding pathways. As you wander around keep your eyes peeled for scurrying rabbits and mice. Don’t forget to look up in the trees for squirrels, you’ll quite often hear them before you see them. We’ve also had otters visit the boathouse over the years. These elusive creatures are rarely seen, but sometimes caught on camera very early in the morning.

With so much nature to spot, join us again and again as you look for something new to spot and enjoy creating new memories with loved ones over the long summer days.

Picnic spots

Choose between a riverside picnic with beautiful views, dappled shade, riverside views packed with wildlife and a natural play area, or head to the walled garden for a picnic spot surrounded by summer flowers.

Explore the garden's historic features

The riverside garden covers the area between the mansion house and the River Wye. The mansion is now a private nursing home, but the views from the top path take in the broad Wye Valley as it meanders across rural Herefordshire.

The boathouse

Built in 1920, the boathouse is hugely significant at The Weir, being one of only a few to remain alongside the Wye today. The boathouse is constructed from reinforced concrete and was cast in situ, with the retaining wall also built around the same time. Look out for otters that have been visiting the boathouse.

The rockery

Highly fashionable during the 1920s, rockeries were alternative and attractive features for the garden. Many exotic trees were planted around the small pools and the mossy rocks provide a cool, damp setting for nature watching.

Rustic hut

Built by Roger Parr in the 1950s, it was designed as a fisherman’s hut, a sheltered place to sit and enjoy the spectacular views in bad weather. The materials were locally sourced or from the estate and the hut was designed to blend in with the surroundings.

The floor is made up of river cobbles, white quartz and horses’ teeth. Look out for the teeth that were used to form a letter ‘P’ for Parr. The walls are made from rough elm timbers and the seat has been decorated with split birch to give it a truly rustic appearance.