Discover the Gardens of South Yorkshire
Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, near Doncaster – Brodsworth’s gardens are a plant lover’s paradise. Whatever time of year you visit, there will always be something to catch your eye. Wonderfully restored to their original horticultural splendour as ‘a collection of grand gardens in miniature’ you can explore the magnificent fern dell, stunning displays of roses and immaculate lawns.
Wentworth Castle Gardens & Stainborough Park, Stainborough – A historic garden with layers of 18th and 19th century design set around Georgian Wentworth Castle, including national collections of rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias and an exquisitely restored Victorian conservatory. Just 2 miles from Junction 37 of the M1 near Barnsley, the gardens are open daily, year round. Dogs are welcome in the extensive deer parkland on a lead. Visitor facilities are accessible, but the Gardens are hilly.
Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield – Sheffield Botanical Gardens is a 19-acre garden, originally designed by Robert Marnock in the “Gardenesque” style. They opened in 1836 and are grade 2 listed by English Heritage. The Gardens are located one mile southwest of Sheffield city centre. Between 1996 and 2005, the gardens were completely restored at a cost of £6.69 million with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A central feature of the Gardens are the sweeping lawns with mature trees which create a setting for the restored glass Pavilions. Colourful herbaceous borders frame the grand central Broadwalk leading up to the Pavilions and the splendid Gatehouse entrance arch is complemented by formal Victorian bedding displays.
Wentworth Woodhouse Gardens, near Rotherham– Situated in the beautiful estate village of Wentworth and set within Wentworth Garden Centre, these fascinating and historically important walled gardens are gradually being reinstated through an extensive programme of restoration. Pleasure grounds of the Wentworth and Fitzwilliam families since the 16th Century, this unique garden includes; herbaceous borders, rock garden, pools and cascades, hosta and fern dell, maze, Fallow deer paddock, a woodland walk and perhaps most interestingly of all a bear pit! Further planned restoration work and development of existing areas will see these truly beautiful and little known gardens finally brought back from the brink.
Cannon Hall Park & Gardens, Barnsley – Visitors can enjoy over 70 acres of parkland and gardens, landscaped in the 1760s by Richard Woods of Chertsey. The historic walled garden adjacent to the main hall can be enjoyed by visitors all year round. An annual event in September celebrates the pear trees, first grown here in the early eighteenth century. One of the greenhouses is home to the 200-year-old Cannon Hall Vine, which was grown from a seed brought back by John Spencer-Stanhope from the continent in 1802. Its descendants produce today’s fine Australian wines.
Cusworth Hall Museum & Park, Doncaster – The extensive park was laid out by Richard Woods a follower of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in 1760. The dramatic views from the house were enhanced by hanging lawns, plantations, lakes, a cascade and rock arch and a fashionable pleasure grounds. Today, the park has been restored to its Edwardian heyday and can be enjoyed by everyone as a place to relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings throughout the year. Replanting and continuous improvements to this Green Flag site mean it is always worth coming back. There is a fabulous tearoom and interesting free museum to experience as well.
Clumber Park’s Walled Kitchen Garden – Located in 3,800 acres of woodland, heathland and historic landscape, this beautiful four acre Walled Kitchen Garden was built in 1772 to supply the Dukes of Newcastle with fruit and vegetables. Today, unusual and old strains of vegetables are grown alongside modern cultivars, the apple orchard consists of local varieties and trained fruit occupies the walls of the upper section of the garden. The magnificent 400ft double herbaceous borders produce spectacular summer colour and now run the entire 400ft length of the garden.