Description:Depending on the vagaries of the season, winter-flowering shrubs, hellebores and drifts of snowdrops are at their best in February. Special Hellebore Day on 8th March. Winding paths give a choice of walks through the 2+ acres of garden which is in the South Downs National Park and enjoys views to the Downs
Small 25yr old woodland. Wellies, macs and winter woollies advised. Hellebores and snowdrops for sale

In the press:Featured on Japanese TV and Garten Träume magazine

Disability information:Limited disabled access in wet weather

Further details:We became interested in winter flowering shrubs and plants over 30 years ago. Since we moved to Clayton some 28 years ago we have been able to establish the garden here so that it gives us pleasure throughout the seasons. There is always work in progress! We planted an area of woodland early on and the whips that we planted in 1984 are now mature trees giving shelter to a wide variety of birds. Squirrels are a problem in the garden as they strip the bark from the trees and helped by the mice, they eat the crocus and other bulbs.

Our heavy clay is mainly neutral but we do have some acid areas where camellias and other acid loving shrubs are established. On Christmas Day we have recorded as many as fifty different flowers in bloom and on bright days the fragrance from winter sweet drifts through the garden.

Our greatest love though is our collection of hellebores and snowdrops. The hellebores are time wasters as each flower asks to be lifted and inspected whilst the ability to identify the snowdrop types will, we fear, never be grasped by us.

People who have visited our garden for the summer openings may be surprised to find flowers and attractive foliage in abundance even in February. Although February is more of a month for a brisk walk we are sure that you will enjoy exploring and sharing our pleasure in wandering around our garden in the winter. There are plenty of seats and secret places; good views of the South Downs but wellies and plenty of woollies are advisable