Things to see and do at The Weir Garden

What will you see this winter at The Weir? | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Discover the 10-acre site at The Weir Garden, split between the natural riverside garden and the productive walled garden and glasshouse. Here’s what to look out for when you visit, from views over the Wye Valley to an unusual walled garden, as well as the wildlife that visit and call The Weir Garden home.

Autumn and winter wildlife at The Weir Garden

Wildlife is easier to spot in the autumn and winter months, with the trees losing their leaves. Many of the migratory birds are enjoying the succulent berries on the hedgerows and juicy worms, trying to keep on the extra layer of fat that’ll keep them warm throughout the winter.

Bird-spotting

Visiting finches add splashes of colour to the frosty gardens and larger varieties such as thrush and fieldfare can be spotted, their plumage even more beautiful during the colder months. Waterfowl will be abundant on the River Wye throughout winter. Keep your eyes peeled for passing goosanders, mallards, mute swans and goldeneye.

Up in the trees, the rooks will be roosting; children love to hear the wonderful noises they make. Listen out for woodpeckers drumming on the trees as they begin their courtship displays in winter, we have both great spotted and green woodpeckers here.

The Weir can be a magical place in winter, with wildlife abundant alongside the banks of the River Wye. Why not beat the winter blues and see what you can spot when you’re next here?

Waterfowl plumage is at its finest this time of year, especially mallard drakes, with their striking green and purple feathers. Other, less common waterfowl are also on the river this time of year, such as pintail, goosander and goldeneye.

The rooks in the garden roost together in the treetops for warmth and safety. The sound of the drumming of a male woodpecker trying to impress a mate echo around the garden

Fish

There are many species of fish in the river and the garden boasts one of the biggest ever caught on the Wye in 1846; a giant royal sturgeon, over 8ft long.

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.

Mist and frost-covered trees surround a couple observing an interpretation by the river at The Weir Garden. — Discover winter's beauty at The Weir Garden. | © Gabriella Karney

See what's growing in the walled garden

The walled garden at The Weir was designed by Humphry Repton and is a short walk through the orchard, past the sheep field until you reach the red-brick wall with the wooden door.

Just outside the wall you’ll see the early Georgian cold frames, which have been fully restored, then step through the big wooden door into a secret garden.

Unlike a standard walled garden, this one has just three sides to make the most of the sunshine and to enjoy the views of the River Wye. You can buy the home-grown goods, straight from the garden.

The glasshouse

The crown of the restored walled garden is the 1920s glasshouse. Built in the 19th century by the same company that built Queen Victoria’s glasshouses, Foster & Pearson, it sadly fell into disrepair for over 50 years.

Thanks to our supporters, it was sympathetically restored, but now requires further conservation work so is closed for the time being. Work will continue until late autumn; why not take a look and see the work in action on your next visit? Records show the glasshouse was used all year round to grow mushrooms, asparagus and rhubarb, being forced over winter and the gardeners still plant in the same format today.

Take a stroll through the parkland

Enjoy a mile-long, circular walk around the parkland at The Weir Garden, exploring the rich history of the wider estate, discovering the huge variety of wildlife, and taking in the sweeping views over the Herefordshire countryside. The parkland walk starts near the welcome board in the car park.

Click here for more information about The Weir's parkland walk.

Go wildlife watching

Bird watching

Over 70 species of birds have been recorded at The Weir Garden, and the Bird Hide is the perfect place to sit and watch. We get woodpeckers visiting and nesting in springtime; great spotter, lesser spotted and green woodpeckers have all been recorded here over the past year.

A firm favourite with visitors is the kingfisher which can be spotted throughout spring, summer and autumn, darting up and down the Wye with a brilliant flash of blue. The garden is abundant with various finches throughout the year; look out for bullfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch and greenfinch.

Otters in the garden

Resident otters have chosen their spot at The Weir. Tiny footprints have been spotted along the riverbank and inside the boathouse. Shy creatures, they have only been spotted once or twice, but the footprints keep appearing, showing they’re still active.

Restoring priority habitats

Thanks to the support of National Highways, we are embarking on a new project to restore over 65 hectares of priority habitat at The Weir Garden. By restoring meadowland, wood pasture, broadleaf woodland, and traditional orchards, we'll create a mosaic of diverse habitats for wildlife.

If you're visiting ask the team about this new project.

Priority habitat restoration

Family walking by the river, surrounded by mist and frost-covered trees.

Discover more at The Weir Garden

Find out how to get to The Weir Garden, where to park, the things to see and do and more.

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An otter raising its head out of the water among the grass on a riverbank at Croome, Worcestershire.

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Our work at The Weir Garden

The garden at The Weir is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. You can see many species in the garden - from the otters and fish that live in the river, to the birds that nest here. In the wider estate we are in the process of restoring over 65 hectares of priority habitat.