Haywards Heath Accommodation

The Rose Garden at Nymans
The stunning borders of the Walled Garden at Nymans
The House Ruins at Nymans Gardens
Nymans Garden views
Leonardslee Gardens, West Sussex. Credit.West Sussex County Council/PPL
Borde Hill Gardens, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Credit.Martin O'Neill/WSCC/PPL
Flower Borders at Nymans Garden
The House within Nymans Garden

Sussex Gardens Vineyards Nymans Borde Hill Wakehurst Place Mid Sussex UK

On the Western edge of the High Weald AONB in Mid-Sussex around Haywards Heath sit the glorious Sussex Weald Gardens many of which were created by acclaimed Victorian planters. Armed with exotic plants collected from far off locations such as China, Burma, The Andes and Tasmania, planters set about covering acres of the High Weald with this fascinating new flora. Today we can reap the rewards of these efforts as the Mid-Sussex Wealden gardens are soul stiring experiences - the perfumes and colours stay with you. Many of the gardens afford panoramic views of the stunning Sussex High Weald countryside. For quieter visting times in high summer and during popular springtime blooms choose weekdays rather than weekends for visits.

Each of the Mid-Sussex gardens has their own planter's story and history and many of the families sponsoring acclaimed Victorian planters vied with each other! Nymans Gardens was the great creation of the Messel family and their Head Gardeners, High Beeches, Leonardslee and Wakehurst Place Gardens by the Loder family and Borde Hill Garden by the Stephenson Clarkes. Today many are still maintained by families devoted to the heritage of these classic English gardens famous for the flowers which rose to fame during the Victorian era- the rhododendrons, azalea, magnolia and bluebells in Spring and the roses and wildflower meadows in Summer. The High Weald's acidic soil provided the perfect conditions for these seasonal blooms. As well as a choice of outstanding gardens two award winning wine estates are in the Mid-Sussex area - Bookers Vineyard at Bolney and Ridgeview Wine Estate at Ditchling Common.

Featured Sussex Accommodation

Willow Cottage Self Catering - Bolney

Self catering accommodation near Haywards Heath. Stunning rural views. Well equipped kitchen. Family friendly. Based on a working farm. Short breaks available.

£250 to £450 Per Week (Seasonal)

Nymans Gardens National Trust

Nymans is a favourite Mid-Sussex Weald Garden and incredibly popular all year round. This is one of the great 20th century gardens covering 275 acres set around a romantic House, garden temples, house ruins left by a fire in 1947 and stunning features like the dovecote.

It was the Messel family who sponsored great planters like Ernest Wilson and Frank Kingdon-Ward who were responsible for the range or rare plants here at Nymans.

The complex includes historic lakes, natural woodland and themed gardens and walks including the Wall Garden, Rose Garden, Pinetum, Sunk Garden and Wild Garden. The Rhododendrons and Magnolias in Spring and the Roses in Summer are particular hightlights at Nymans.

Nymans, Handcross, nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EB. Tel. 01444 405250. The gardens, shop and restaurant are open all year round from February to November Wed to Sun 10am to 5pm and from Nov to Jan 10am to 4pm. The house is open from mid-March to early Nov Wed to Sun 11am to 4pm.

High Beeches Woodland & Water Gardens

Another of the great Sussex Gardens, High Beeches covers 27 acres and contains a mix of stunning woodland, water gardens, natural wildflower meadows and a host of rare and award winning plants.

Open from late March to late October daily from 1pm to 5pm (except Wednesdays), High Beeches offers new treasures through the seasons. Visit in early spring for the daffodil fields, in early May for bluebells and rhododendrons, in late May and early June for azaleas, in early summer for the best of the wild flower meadow and look out for the beautiful blue Willow Gentians flower in late August. Autumn colouring is also a highlight at High Beeches.

High Beeches Gardens, High Beeches Lane, Handcross, West Sussex. RH17 6HQ. Tel. 01444 400589. A restaurant and tea garden are on-site. Open 1-5pm every afternoon from Late March to Late October except Wednesdays.

Borde Hill Garden

Beautiful Grade II listed Borde Hill Sussex Garden is renowned for its outstanding Rose and Italian Gardens and is set within 200 acres of parkland.

Plenty of sub-tropical and rare plants are here as well as the Africa and Peach glasshouses and lakeside and woodland walks. Note the the Champion Trees and Shrubs brought in from the Himalayas and Andes! Seasonal highlights include in spring the camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas and in summer the herbaceous flowers and the perfumed roses.

Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XP. Tel. 01444 450326. Open from late March to early September and again for a few days over late October into early November, Daily from 10am to 6pm with last admission 5pm.

Wakehurst Place & Millennium Seed Bank

Wakehurst Place is Kew's international botanic country garden situated at Ardingly near Haywards Heath. A superb variety of seasonal highlights await here including in spring the bluebell woods, daffodills, snowdrops, rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias and in summer the colours of the Iris del and sweet scents of the Giant Himalayan lilies.

The woodlands here contain trees from the temporate zones of the world and see the four national collections of skimmias, birches, southern beeches and hypericums also here. Conservation is given a high priority at Wakehurst Place which is home to the Millennium Seed Bank. Areas across the complex are divided into zones including the Gardens, Conservation, Seed Bank, Woodland and Loder Valley Nature Reserve zones.

The gardens surround a mansion house and include the Pleasaunce walled gardens, Spring Border, the Winter Garden, Southern Hemisphere Garden and the Mansion Pond. See a comprehensive map via Kew's webguide. Autumn tints are special here at Wakehurst Place alongside the mushrooms and toadstools and visit during the winter season to see the UK's largest Christmas tree lit!

Royal Botanic Gardens, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, Nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6TN. Tel.01444 894000. Open from March to October Gardens 10am to 5pm, Seed Bank & Mansion til 5pm. From November to end of February Gardens 10am to 4.30pm, Seed Bank & Mansion til 3.30pm. Closed on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, but now OPEN on New Year's Day!

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

Leonardslee is truly one of England's great gardens, acclaimed for its mass of rhododendrons and for its azaleas. Leonardslee is Grade 1 Listed offering a wealth of different colours through the seasons, although the Springtime Spectacular is particularly popular as is the on-site 'Beyond the Dolls House' Exhibition. Seven lakes sit within a 200 acre valley here at Leonardslee which also boasts a Sculpture Garden, Plant and Giftshop, Victorian Motor Car display and numerous wildfowl, deer and wallabies.

Miles of paths weave around the site taking in the breathtaking colours of in April the early Rhododendrons and spectacular Magnolias and Camellias. In May Leonardslee is widely considered to be at its most colourful. Summer highlights include the banks of hydrangeas and in autumn colours shift to a mellow mood as the leaves turn. The gardens of the Sussex High Weald will have you converted to gardens for life, with Leonardslee and nearby Nymans standing as two of the best gardens in Sussex. A selection of events and shows run regularly at Leonardslee over the summer season. Find out more and take a pre-visit photo guide of the gardens via the website.

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PP. Tel. 01403 891 212. Open from April to October, 9.30am to 6pm. Last admission is 4.30pm. The Clock Tower Restaurant is on-site.

Bookers Vineyard & Ridgeview Wine Estate

Alongside spectacular gardens in the Mid Sussex area sit fine wine and vineyard estates. The award winning Bookers Vineyard, part of the Bolney Wine Estate, has 3 acres of vines and first started producing wine here in 1972. A state of the art winery was added in 2005. Sample stunning English reds, dry whites with pear and rose petal aromas and medium body Pinot Noir. Read more on the Bolney Estate Wines and details on tours and tasters via the Bookers Vineyard webguide.

Bookers Vineyard, Bolney Wine Estate, Foxhole Lane, Bolney, West Sussex, RH17 5NB. Tel.01444 881894 for tours & tastings. General Enq Tel. 01444 881575. On-site shop selling the wines open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm.

The Ridgeview Estate at Ditchling Common produces fine quality sparkling wines using traditional Champagne methods and varieties. The estate covers 30 acres and sits south of Haywards Heath (east of Burgess Hill) near to the South Downs. Ridgeview is also an award winner (best English Sparkling Wine 2005). Contact the estate direct for group tasting tours lasting around one and a half hours and read more on the Ridgeview wines via the website.

Ridgeview Wine Estate, Fragbarrow Lane, Ditchling Common, Sussex BN6 8TP. Tel. (00 44) (0) 1444 241 441. Open Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm. Closed in October during harvest.

Featured Sussex Accommodation

Willow Cottage Self Catering - Bolney

Self catering accommodation near Haywards Heath. Stunning rural views. Well equipped kitchen. Family friendly. Based on a working farm. Short breaks available.

£250 to £450 Per Week (Seasonal)