Project

Beningbrough's garden vision

View across a gravel garden with plants, paths, water feature and seats. Surrounded by walls and trees. — A touch of the Mediterranean in Yorkshire | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

2016 marked the 300th anniversary of Beningbrough Hall and in celebration of this historic milestone Andy Sturgeon was set the task of creating a long-term plan to refresh, improve, and in some areas re-invent the eight-acre garden.

The changing face of the garden

The garden at Beningbrough is no stranger to change, having been treated to redevelopment by its various masters and their differing tastes and the fashions of the time, the garden has never stood still for long.

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

Through the combined talents of Andy and our own dedicated garden team at Beningbrough, the creation of a new long-term design vision has ensured a garden that will continue to delight and inspire visitors, now and for many years to come.

The Mediterranean Garden

The newest addition to the garden vision is the Mediterranean Garden.

Its opening was delayed initially by the pandemic and then by the recent wet weather at the beginning of the year.

The garden now features a series of linear walls which emerge from the sloped ground, providing a new structure to the garden. Winding pathways reveal fresh viewpoints, hidden corners, and welcoming seating areas. Water returns to the gardens with the addition of a pond, water trickles along metal rills and shallow water bowls are home to miniature lilies.

Over 4,000 herbaceous perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs from Mediterranean climate zones around the world, have been planted by staff and volunteers from across the garden team and wider National Trust. Planting is complemented by the use of locally quarried, sustainable Yorkstone in bowls, boulders and stones.

Climate change

The new Mediterranean Garden has been designed and future-proofed for a changing climate. Plants and shrubs have been selected from Mediterranean climates from around the world due to their versatility and ability to tolerate extremes in temperature and rainfall, providing the opportunity to experiment with planting.

Further drainage has been incorporated in the garden design to ensure that any fluctuations in rainfall can be managed going forward, making sure the garden remains resilient in the face of climate change. As you explore, consider how your own garden might need to evolve to meet the ever-changing weather patterns we face and don't hesitate to chat to the team to find out their top tips and which plants are thriving.

The long term vision

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

Throughout the design and implementation of the new vision, historic views will be maintained and improved, new planting schemes created, and some areas re-invented. Whilst not all areas of the garden will be changed, Andy’s approach to the landscape will ensure that all areas of it are cohesive and in keeping with everything else we have to offer at Beningbrough. 

The tender and designs were only started after a thorough conservation management plan was completed to determine different factors for consideration around the garden.

The story so far

To kick start the project, as part of the tercentenary, 300,000 spring bulbs were planted to create the ha-ha walk. Swathes of white kick start the new year in the garden with snowdrops, leading into the bobbing heads of daffodils in spring.

Other areas of work have been more subtle such as opening up views out to the parkland and beyond and improving pathways. Some of the planting, removing and cutting back of hedges to reclaim spaces has started to give the longest time to recover and grow.

The Pergola was the first full new garden from the plans, and was officially opened in June 2018. Hear more about the creation of this tranquil spot from Andy and the garden team in this short video.

The Pergola

I am genuinely excited to be working with the National Trust and I am really looking forward to developing these already spectacular gardens over the coming years…our commission at Beningbrough recognises our passion and ability for these long-term historic projects.

A quote by Andy Sturgeon Landscape and Garden Designer

Who is Andy Sturgeon?

Andy is one of the UK's leading landscape designers, with over 30 years’ experience and a plethora of awards including numerous RHS Gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, plus the prestigious Best in Show accolade. Both The Sunday Times and House & Garden Magazine placed Andy in their top ten designers in Britain, positioning him at the top of his field.

He is also no stranger to reviving historic spaces: amongst his commissions are the spectacular 2.5-acre roof garden adorning the roof of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station, and a temporary instalment within the medieval Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo, Italy.

Visit Andy Sturgeon Designs

Andy Sturgeon in the gardens at Beningbrough with a lawn and greenery around him. — Sizing up the area for the Mediterranean Garden | © National Trust/Joanne Parker

Documenting the past

Some aspects of the garden are documented in history like the American Garden, first appearing on a Ordinance Survey map in 1852. Others are very much National Trust creations from the late 1970s including the walled garden and small formal gardens next to the hall. An important part of determining the plans depends on the archaeology under our feet.

The TV programme The Great British Dig featured Beningbrough, along with trying to solve the mystery of possible wings on the hall, they also strived to find evidence of what the garden might have once looked like.

Watch Beningbrough's episode below. Since then, local volunteer group Roads to the Past have continued to dig and document any clues about the garden, helping to make sure any garden developments don't impact what has gone before.

On Demand with Channel 4

An ongoing legacy

Beningbrough has received several bequests over the years and the late Mr Ian Reddihough left a generous gift in his will to support the ongoing development of Beningbrough. This money has enabled the garden vision to progress and will continue to support ongoing projects each year, some small, some larger, all intended to make Beningbrough one of the best gardens to visit in North Yorkshire, no Yorkshire, no the north of England...and maybe a little beyond.

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

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