With summer reaching its peak, Nick Mosley heads to Borde Hill in West Sussex to explore the stunning gardens and surrounding woodland.
Set within 383 acres of Grade II* listed garden and parkland, historic Borde Hill offers a quintessential English summer escape, where horticultural excellence, family adventures and open-air entertainment join to create memorable days out for all ages.
The layout has been meticulously planned over the decades, with seasonal planting bringing colour, fragrance and structure through a series of outdoor ‘garden rooms’.
At the heart of Borde Hill lies the Italian Garden, a sun-drenched sanctuary inspired by the romance of Tuscany. Framed by topiary-lined hedges, cypress trees and terracotta pots overflowing with pelargoniums and agapanthus, this Mediterranean-inspired garden offers a tranquil retreat where visitors can pause beside the formal lily pool and enjoy sweeping views across the heritage-listed South Park.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Jay Robin’s Rose Garden, one of Borde Hill’s most cherished outdoor spaces. Designed by RHS Gold Medal-winning designer Robin Williams, it features more than 750 David Austin roses across 150 varieties, making it one of the largest collections in the South East.
Repeat-flowering roses in shades of white, yellow, pink, orange and red are complemented by lavender, delphiniums, peonies and sculptural topiary, with views framed by historic yew hedges and the Elizabethan chimneys of Borde Hill House. As you can imagine, it’s quite the scent-sensation.
Elsewhere, the Mid Summer Border has reached its spectacular peak with bold drifts of perennials, ornamental grasses and Gold Standard Roses. Together with Paradise Walk and the wider garden, the displays offer ever-changing seasonal interest throughout summer and into autumn.
Borde Hill is also serving up an ambitious summer events programme combining family activities, open-air opera and large-scale music concerts.
From 11th July to 6th September, children can explore The Enchanted Garden, a magical woodland trail created for children aged 3 to 8 years. Young explorers follow the story of Piccolo – the smallest pixie in the Fairy Garden – as they complete challenges, play games, weave a natural loom and discover the Fairy Glade. Children can complete activities in their Enchanted Garden storybook before collecting a special reward at the end of their adventure.
To help families enjoy more time together in nature, Borde Hill is offering special summer prices on Garden admission, trails and kids’ food at the Summerhouse Café, as part of the Great British Summer Savings initiative. The trail is half-price and costs £2 per child, plus reduced admission, and is free to members.
Borde Hill has long been renowned as a destination for summer music and this year is no exception with live swing, Latin, jazz and vintage bands running throughout July and August in the Azalea Ring. Entrance is included with general admission.
To the south of the gardens in the estate’s parkland, some of pop’s biggest hitters will be hosting concerts including Nile Rogers & CHIC (13 August), McFly (14 August), Becky Hill (15 August) and ABBA Under the Stars (4 September). ‘We Are Family’ – a family-focused festival with live music, fairground rides, themed parades and food and drink runs on 16 August.
Alongside the café found within the garden itself, following the extensive refurbishment of the Victorian stable block and walled kitchen garden, visitors can also enjoy informal bites and coffee at Edie’s Kitchen and an elevated dining experience at Restaurant Isca celebrating seasonal produce grown and harvested across the estate.
Borde Hill Garden, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP.
01444 450 326 • www.bordehill.co.uk
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