Heritage Open Days. The Jellicoe Water Gardens, Hemel Hempstead

In 1957, famous landscape architect Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe was invited to design a new town centre park in Hemel Hempstead. He transformed a site that once held orchards, watercress beds, and ironworks into a unique garden shaped like a serpent. The design channels the River Gade, connecting people with water and nature. Inspired by experimental artist Paul Klee and the role of the sub-conscious mind, Jellicoe’s vision came to life when the Gardens opened in 1962. They are a rare post-war Modernist landscape and one of Jellicoe’s most intact schemes.

Whilst staying true to Jellicoe’s original design the Water Gardens underwent a major restoration in 2017 and has since won several heritage and conservation awards.