Things to see in the garden at Beningbrough

A family in winter coats look at a pond bordered by formal stone edging, with clipped hedges and leafless trees behind — Family exploring the garden in winter at Beningbrough Hall | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Explore over eight acres of formal gardens, including newly created spaces, surrounded by parkland and mature trees. Relax among the flowers watching the wildlife at work or see what's growing in the two-acre walled garden.

This year round garden is planted with visitors in mind; something will always be at its best. Areas take on different styles and seasonally evolve. Explore ahead of a visit either season by season, or space by space.

The dedicated team of garden staff and volunteers can often be seen working away. Don't hesitate to ask what's they're working on and any advice they might have if you've got a question.

You might find surplus plants or glut of the harvest available to pick up and take home for your pocket of green.

A garden for all seasons

Each area tends to be at its best at a different time of year and seeing the seasons change is a reason to return time after time.

View along a walled garden with trees on walls, a hall in the distance and blue skies above — The walls help to maximise the sun in the walled garden | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Winter

Shapes and structure from the trees provide a strong framework for a winter walk. It’s the best time to see the trained espaliers or gnarly branches of mature trees, some over 300 years old and giants on the horizon. A few remaining seed heads offer structure and texture as the last of the herbaceous beds are cut back and mulched with home made leaf mould. Look out for the first signs of shoots as the new year starts with pockets of colour popping up in the borders from Scilla and Iris reticulata.

Garden bench in front of a wall with a climbing rose and lots of alliums around the bench — Garden borders bursting with late spring colour | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Spring

New shoots seem to grow daily as borders and trees fill out and around the walled garden, crops are sown and planted out. With allium swaying in the breeze, these distinctive globes filled with white and purple flowers can be seen in the pergola, south border and around the pear arch border in the Walled Garden. The annually refreshed tulip display opens in the West Formal Garden, changing every year to bring a refreshed brightness to this protected pocket of the garden. For 2024 expect a sea of whites and purples from varieties such as 'Gwen', 'Mistress Mystic', 'Purple Lady' and 'Arabian Mystery'. More than 2000 tulips have been planted in the south border recently for an additional spring wow factor.

Visitor photographing white blossom on a tree from their wheelchair — With so many fruit trees, blossom is in abundance in spring | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Blossom watch

As the days slowly extend into spring, blossom opens, and pollinators get busy, it’s a good time to see them buzzing around the delicate petals. Different types of blossom appear over the season, generally starting in March with the peach in the glasshouse. Then in succession look out for cherries, pears and apples, with crab apples often being the last to blossom. In the orchard keep your eyes peeled for medlars, quince and almonds giving their spring time show. Join in with the buzz and share your photographs using #BlossomWatch.

Winding path through billowing floral beds on either side and oak beams overhead — Sit among the planting in the Pergola | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Early summer

Swathes of colour and billowing beds start to take centre stage as summer begins. The Pergola by award-winning designer Andy Sturgeon flourishes with Wisteria 'Alba' growing over oak beams, underplanted with bulbs, flowering shrubs and topiary. It's the perfect spot to take a seat in among the planting with the south facing wall capturing the best of the sunshine and warmth.

Path through colourful billowing flower borders on either side — The double border is a sight to behold in summer | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Summer

In the double herbaceous border, sweet and heady scents of mock orange fill the air. Pastel colours prevail here with swathes of perennials including geraniums, peonies, and anemone. Wisteria over obelisks and roses along the walls add height and further interest. Elsewhere wildflowers are at their best making a nectar haven for nature. In the walled garden, summer fruits ripen; the Japanese wineberry is as distinctive as it is tasty. Surplus of any crops are offered for donations through the shop.

A view along a long stright path with a colourful flower border to the right — Don't miss the south border in late summer | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Late summer

The south border is anecdotally known as the St Leger border as a nod to Lady Chesterfield's entertaining during the autumn horse meet; wanting an area to look its best when hosting guests. One of her horses, Sun Castle won the stakes in 1941. Until the first frosts expect late colour and interest in the borders and along the wall here, making the most of the walled garden slip, including an array of shapes and colours from different dahlias.

Two boys laughing as one lifts a large pumpkin, other pumpkins are on display behind — From tiny and green to huge and orange - peruse the pumpkins | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Autumn colour

Trees start to take on golden tones especially the lime tree avenue on the north side of the hall, ornamental vines climbing over walls and gateways and the giant beech trees on the carriageway. A rare sight all year round is the variegated oak, known at the Duke of Cambridge tree, on the south side of the hall. It looks even more unique in autumn. The gentle progression from green tones to bronze leaves before dropping seems to mark the seasons slowly shifting over time. Don't miss the colours and textures in the walled garden from gourds, pumpkins, apples and more.

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Now open - the new Mediterranean Garden

Be one of the first to experience this new garden at Beningbrough which has transformed a previously grassy area into a stunning garden space by award-winning garden designer Andy Sturgeon. Explore new pathways, hidden nooks and relaxing seating areas. Witness new beginnings as the thousands of plants, put in place by the gardens team, establish their roots and prepare to flourish in the years to come.

The water features provide a calming backdrop to the space as the water gently trickles down the rill, cascades through the metal spouts and flows into the new pond. Take your time and enjoy this new special place at Beningbrough.

Don't miss as you meander

The formal gardens

Sitting next to the Victorian conservatory, is the hot west formal and the perfect place to bed out the boldest and brightest colours twice a year, as was the fashion of the time. In contrast the east formal is a cool, scented space to watch the fish or sit for a while in the loggia surrounded by scent. The south lawn offers views to the parkland beyond and is framed on all sides by mature trees. With south facing seating, it's not hard to find a place to perch if you want a pause when you wander.

The winter corner

Beyond the hall, close to the wilderness play area is an area that comes to life as others sleep. Filled with mahonia, silver birch, viburnums, calicarpa and bare naked ladies - expect colour from bark, leaves, berries and shoots from autumn to spring. In spring you won't miss the scent from the sarcococca - known as sweet winter box, drawing you in to explore a little further.

The walled garden

A stroll around Beningbrough's walled garden will take you through the historic pear arch and under Beningbrough's own two varieties of grapevine in the remaining glasshouse. The number of fruit trees are in the hundreds and it keeps the team of volunteers busy all year round to optimise their growths for production. Alongside the fruit, a wide range of vegetables are cultivated using traditional methods in two acres of kitchen garden, first enclosed when the walls were built in 1792. Harvested produce is used in the restaurant adding to the flavours on the menu with surplus offered for donation through the outdoor shop.

Discover Beningbrough from above in this short video.

Enjoy a bird's eye view

Low sun and blue sky with bare branches of arched pears and underplanting — The low light adds to the beauty in winter | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

What if it rains?

If there's one thing we can rely on, it's the Great British weather...and not just in winter. The garden has pockets of places to take shelter from a quick shower, alternatively, even if not part of your original plan, head into the hall, restaurant or shop if the rain is more prolongued.

Borrow a brolly - ask the welcome team if you forgot to bring your own or buy a new one from the shop
Take a seat under the south facing loggia in the East Formal Garden
See what's growing in the glasshouse...the grapes have pips, just in case you're tempted!
Mooch around the potting shed, try to figure out what some of the tools were for
Imagine life as a laundry maid or reminisce about a time before machines did most of the washing
Pick a new book from the secondhand book shelves in the library

Top trees

When one of the garden team found out about the tree register, which keeps the records of 'champion trees' - the tallest or widest of each species, they felt sure that there would be some Yorkshire champions at Beningbrough...

The garden vision

The gardens at Beningbrough are no stranger to change, having been treated to redevelopment by its various masters and their differing tastes and the fashions of the time. The internationally acclaimed garden designer Andy Sturgeon has created a design that will be slowly introduced to enhance aspects of the landscape at Beningbrough.

Little detail is known about the specifics of the gardens of the past. Consequently, unlike many other National Trust properties the gardens cannot be tied to a certain era or design, allowing Andy and his team a certain amount of creative freedom to develop areas of the garden that some visitors may be less familiar with.

Keep up to date

Overhead shot showing countryside, gardens, hall, walled garden and tree lined avenue

Discover more at Beningbrough

Find out when Beningbrough is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

Beningbrough is a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) partner garden. RHS members can visit for free any day the garden is open. Free entrance is for members only and you will need your RHS membership card on the day.

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View across a gravel garden with plants, paths, water feature and seats. Surrounded by walls and trees.

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Things to see in the garden at Beningbrough