Spectacular landscape garden - the Queen Mother's childhood home

St Paul’s Walden Bury is a Grade 1 listed garden laid out in the early 18th century and has kept the original concept of a formal woodland garden, with temples, statues and ponds. It reflects the idea that a garden should be in harmony with the surrounding landscape: thus allees and avenues flow out into the countryside, while features of the countryside, such as the church, are drawn into the design, and trees are left to grow naturally.

The formal garden was influenced by French 17th century architects, such as Le Notre, and is based on the classic patte d’oie (goose foot) design, in which avenues radiate from a focal point. The long avenues are lined with clipped beech hedges: the original plantings of clipped hornbeam were replaced in the 1930's to the same design. One of the features of the garden is that the visitor frequently comes upon a surprise. There are unexpected views of temples and statues, hidden glades and a secluded terraced theater.

There is an interesting collection of plants in the more recent woodland garden, and wild flowers are encouraged. There are displays of snowdrops from February, then daffodils and cowslips. April and May are the best months to see the spectacular rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas in full flower, as well as lovely bluebells. June and July bring the woodland paeonies and lilies, while carpets of wild orchids have naturalized here in recent years. In the autumn there are displays of colchicums (autumn crocuses).

Dogs on leads are welcome.