A Friend facing away from the camera, taking a picture of a large rhododendron with pink flowers on their smartphone.

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Leonardslee Gardens

Sarah Scott, Team Coordinator, Property.

Published by

Windsor Great Park

Jun 14 2023

The Friends of The Savill Garden visited Leonardslee Gardens on 28 April, beginning with refreshments and pastries.

Thankfully the weather was much better than it had been for the group that visited Wisley just the month before, and the Friends enjoyed a guided tour of the Rockery Garden and Camelia Walk; stopping to see the famous Wallabies of Leonardslee Gardens en route.

It was too early for bluebells but the group saw violets poking their heads through the ground beneath the trees.

Highlights

The early rhododendrons were on display, and in particular the rhododendron linearfolium caught the attention of the group with its small leaves and pink flowers. The pieris were also a highlight, with young scarlet leaves that looked like rhododendron flowers from a distance.

Like The Savill Garden, Leonardslee has many champion trees, and several were spotted that day, including one Prunus serrulata ‘Albi-plena’ that was over 100 years old, has the largest girth in West Sussex at 247cm with flowers that only last a week. The group were lucky enough to see the tree in its prime near the Loderi Garden.

Amongst the planting were a collection of sculptures by a South African sculptor.

The tour led us down steep slopes to the lakes at the bottom of Leonardslee Gardens. Many of the group took the opportunity to ride back to the top of the gardens in an 8-seat buggie, operated by volunteers.

A tree with gold leaves and some bare branches grows from grass beneath it. Behind it are tall trees of green.

The lakes at Leonardslee Gardens.

An enjoyable time was had by the group visiting this Grade 1 listed garden.

Written by Brenda Tong, Events Co-ordinator

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