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Goodnestone Park

Stay

Goodnestone Park

Gardens

Goodnestone Park

Old Dairy Café

Book your stay

Goodnestone Park

The Manor House

12 Bedroom / 24 Guests Book now

Goodnestone Park

Bonnington Cottage

2 Bedrooms / 4 Guests Book now

The Walled Garden

Hidden secrets to discover

Considered by many to be the highlight of a visit to Goodnestone Park, the walled garden has a central view through a succession of walled enclosures to the 12th-century church beyond. The walls are dotted with lichens, mosses, and plants, such as ivy-leaved toadflax and yellow stonecrop, all of which indicate their old age. Many of the walls underwent careful restoration in the 1960s and 70s and remain a stunning sight today.

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Leading to the church

Borders of highly fragrant shrub roses, tall spikes of foxtail lilies, and an underplanting of herbaceous perennials characterise the first part of the garden. To one side, a large wooden framed greenhouse is often burgeoning with newly propagated plants for the garden’s nearby nursery. Visitors can also discover other treasures, such as a herb garden, a small tropical garden, and a pictorial meadow near the greenhouse.

The lawn leads through to an ornamental pond edged by weathered york stone. On a calm day the church is clearly reflected in the pond’s still water interspersed with flowering water lilies. The deep herbaceous borders with their distinctive colour themes provide a fragrant vibrancy.

A lovey experience

Beautifully kept gardens, especially the walled garden with its pond and view of the church. Also, plenty of opportunity for walking on woodland paths – Trip Advisor June 2021

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Changing character

Closer to the church, the garden’s character changes again with exuberant peonies in the early summer accompanied by shrub and climbing roses. Diverse herbaceous borders ensure that flowering continues for much of the summer and autumn. The garden is dedicated to growing vegetables and cut flowers on either side of the borders, other areas are dedicated to the growing of vegetables and cut flowers using the No-Dig method . Many dahlias are grown for cut flowers and help provide additional late-season interest. Trained fruit trees also form an important part of this garden’s character.

At the very end of the garden, beneath the Norman church, grows an extensive wisteria, planted between the wars. It covers the wall and provides a beautiful backdrop to this final part of the garden.

The gardens

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