Barnsdale Gardens

Head Gardener's Comment

Set in the heart of the beautiful Rutland countryside, Barnsdale Gardens is one of the area’s top visitor attractions comprising 37 individual gardens and features plus a large, well-stocked plant nursery in one 8-acre site. The plots range in style from traditional cottage plantings to themed gardens, allotments, woodlands and formal ponds and have been likened to a ‘theme park for gardeners’.

History

When Geoff Hamilton bought his five acres of farmland in the small village of Exton, the 'Barnsdale' that millions tuned in on a Friday night to see, was born. A local farmer was asked to plough most of it and after transplanting one or two mature trees and shrubs from his previous home, he began his first project. Gardeners' World was soon established in its new home with Geoff's down to earth style earning him the accolade 'Britain's Favourite TV Gardener'. He championed many good causes, in particular organic gardening and the use of peat-free alternatives, and nearly twenty-five years on the garden is still totally run on Geoff’s organic principles by son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Sue Hamilton.

Plants of Note

Extensive collections of hemerocallis and penstemon as well as a wide variety of trees, shrubs and perennials.