Garden Finder > England > West Sussex > Sussex Prairie Garden

Last updated on 15 September 11

Sussex Prairie Garden

  3.9/5 (11 ratings)

Gardenvisit Editorial

The Prairie Garden is a six acre garden with naturalistic planting, created by Paul and Pauline McBride. The garden is on a farm and surrounded by oak trees.

Head Gardener's Comment

The Prairie garden is relatively mature looking despite being so new, one of the great advantages of perennial planting. The garden is surrounded by mature oaks, with views of the iron age sites of Chanctonbury Ring and Devil's Dyke. As well as being of great interest to garden lovers, the farm also boasts rare breed sheep, and pigs living in the oak woods.

History

Morlands Farm, site of the Prairie Garden, is mentioned in the Domesday Book, then known as "Morlei Farm." For the last 50 years our family has farmed the land. The main business being beef cattle, sheep and hay crops.

After 12 years working on a major garden design project in Luxembourg, during which Paul and Pauline were lucky enough to work with Piet Oudolf, the Sussex Prairie Garden was conceived.

Plants of Note

The garden features many unusual varieties of herbaceous perennials, Veronicastrums, Thalictrums, Persicarias, Sanguisorbas, Kniphofias and Hemerocallis. Huge drifts of ornamental grasses and Asters extend the season of interest hugely. We have dozens of varieties of Miscanthus, Panicums, Molinias, Sporobolis and Penisetum

Address - Morlands Farm, Wheatsheaf Road, Henfield, West Sussex, England, BN5 9AT
Website - Visit the Sussex Prairie Garden website

Nearby Gardens

Gardens within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Nearby Garden Nurseries

Garden Nurseries within 30km as the crow flies from this garden.

Reviews and Comments

Have you visited this garden?

  • 8 months ago John Coldron said

    Prompt acknologement would be appreciated. Also an explanaton to my wife who may be still wandering the gardens which did look very nice.

    (1.0/5)
  • over 1 year ago Chris Walker said

    I ‘stumbled’ across Sussex Prairies, almost one year ago now, having been introduced to the owners (Paul and Pauline) in a social context. Having now had the pleasure of visiting SP in all seasons, and accepting that I am not even an amateur gardener, I have been stunned by not only the original concept but also by the different seasonal presentations of the whole prairies – from the wonderful winter starkness of now, to the summer colour bursts of flowers and plants and seemingly never ending grasses etc. The garden sculptures lurk, waiting for the unsuspecting visitor, with the various livestock (pigs, sheep, chickens) providing an animated side show, and produce,
    When SP is open, garden wanderings can be ‘rewarded’ by homemade cakes and other scrumptious delights, with tea and coffee, on the tea room terrace which overlooks the gardens. Goodness knows what hard work goes on behind the scenes during non-visiting times, but it must be considerable.
    I am (almost) inspired to plant a few things myself……….Go visit!

    (5.0/5)
  • over 1 year ago Lesley Beehan said

    We made a second visit to Sussex Prairies to see the garden in the autumn. The subtle autumn colours were truly beautiful. Despite the garden being officially closed, Pauline made us very welcome! (The previous review describing her as "frosty," is quite frankly, unbelievable! No surpise that the reviewer is anonymous, I suppose.)
    The Aspen yellow display of Amsonia hubrichtii was one of the highlights of our visit. Another spectacular and unusual plant was the 8 foot tall Aster tataricus, one of the latest flowering Asters I've seen.
    On a non horticultural note, we were treated to free cuddles with some extremley friendly lambs!!

    (5.0/5)
  • over 1 year ago anon said

    i was not impressed in the slightest - don't bother wasting your time on a vist - Pauline in particular frosty and unhelpful. 0 out of 5

    (1.0/5)
  • over 1 year ago Adam Hodge said

    The compelling features about this 'Prairie' garden are the lovely wide walks swirling around like a whirl pool and then the big bangs of colour which are extra-ordinary. A vast drift of Rudbeckia Goldstrum was yelling its face off with sun and joy..amazing. Lots of lovely plant groupings of well partnered flowers.

    The blocks of grasses act as a foil for the exuberance of colour.

    Although the Praire style is not my bag one cannot but adore the big drifts of bright flowers. Wonderful!

    (4.0/5)

See all the reviews of Sussex Prairie Garden

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