From roses to wildflowers – with the National Trust around Hampshire.
Is there anything more heavenly than an English garden in summer? From rose festivals to dramatic dahlia displays, National Trust gardens in and around Hampshire are some of the best places to enjoy favourite summer blooms. Whether you’re after inspiration for your own garden or a beautiful backdrop to meet family and friends, these horticultural gems tick every box.
PICTURED ABOVE: Mottisfont rose arbour | National Trust, Marianne Majerus
Mottisfont with summer wildflowers | National Trust Images, Simon Newman
Alongside beautiful flower borders, each garden listed has a particular floral highlight, giving you something new to enjoy every month from June to early autumn.
And this year, you can also experience some of these beautiful gardens ‘after hours’, with live theatre, music, and cinema.
Mottisfont rose garden | National Trust Images, Clive Nichols
Best for roses
Mottisfont, near Romsey (June to early July)
The walled garden at Mottisfont is filled with fragrance and colour from thousands of roses in June. It’s home to the National Collection of pre-1900 old-fashioned roses. These roses flower just once a year, and their June season is an extraordinary sight.
There are several hundred varieties, including Rosa ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ – a sumptuous pale pink bourbon rose inspired by the Empress Josephine’s garden. Ancient varieties include Rosa ‘Gallica Officinalis’, a light crimson, scented shrub brought to England from Persia by the Crusaders.
Borders are packed with rambling roses, elegant climbers cover the high brick walls, and there are lush rose arbours to walk beneath too. Don’t forget to try local ice cream maker Jude’s rose-flavoured ice cream whilst you’re there.
Also look out for…
In July purple hedges of lavender line the garden paths, releasing a heady scent as you brush past. In the kitchen garden newly-planted sweet peas entwine around the pergolas, displaying fragrant pink, purple and white blooms from June to September. This is a great place to sit and relax, taking in beautiful beds of leafy salads and veg, herbs and flowers.
Hinton Ampner roses | National Trust Images, Chris Lacey
Hinton Ampner, nr Alresford (June & July)
This horticultural delight is heaving with flowers in summer, and one of its stars is the collection of repeat flowering roses, renowned for their intense scent. You’ll find them throughout the gardens – climbing the walls of the kitchen garden (and the house), lining the path to the ornamental pond, and en-masse in huge rose borders just beyond the terrace. Here you’ll find apricot Ghislaine de Feligonde, and the arching branches of soft pink, richly fragrant Great Maiden’s Blush.
Hinton Ampner – kitchen garden summer produce | National Trust Images, Andrew Butler
Also look out for…
Attractive displays of leafy summer produce and pretty companion planting in the walled kitchen garden. Behind this lies the cut flower border, brimming with assorted blooms, from delphiniums, astrantia and peonies, to roses, sweet peas and alliums.
Rose Celebration, 20 May to 10 July
A new rose guide will take you to Hinton’s rose hot spots this summer. Pick up a copy to enjoy a rose-themed trail, keeping an eye out for the garden’s wooden rose markers.
Summer Lates: Outdoor theatre
‘The Wind in the Willows’ with Quantum Theatre. Join Mole, Ratty and Badger on their mad-cap adventures in this hilarious production of a much-loved children’s classic. 5 & 21 July, 6.30pm, adult £16, child (3-17 yrs) £11, family £46. Book at nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner.
The Vyne – dahlias in the walled garden | National Trust Images Dave Hughes
Best for dahlias
The Vyne, near Basingstoke (late July to October)
Another National Trust garden that’s keeping floral traditions alive is The Vyne, where, in the 19th century, head gardener Mr Broomfield grew award-winning blooms. In late summer, you’ll be treated to a spectacular sight in the walled garden. The 30m border is packed with dahlias in incredible colourways and styles. Look out for red and yellow dahlia ‘Pooh’, spiky magenta ‘Nuit d’Ete’, and coral pink dahlia ‘Bacardi’. If you time it right you’ll find freshly cut dahlias to take home, for a small donation.
Also look out for…
Summerhouse borders, sustainably planted with perennials, are filled with vibrant colour, from frothy pink achillea and purple-blue spires of penstemon, to bright pink echinacea, fragrant mauve phlox and the soft yellow daisy heads of leucanthemum. All chosen to appeal to pollinators.
Summer Lates: Music festival
The Vyne hosts its very first live music festival, presented by FB Music and Media. Street performers, live headline acts every evening, street foods, local ales and cocktails.
7 to 9 July, gates open 6pm, performances from 7-10.30pm (with 30 min interval), adult £20, child (under 16) £12.50. No overnight camping. Book at https://fbmusicandmedia.com/vyne-music-festival.
Summer Lates: Outdoor cinema
‘Elvis’ starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks (28 July, 9.30pm-12.10am, rated 12, standard ticket £15.50 / premium ticket £21.50 + booking fee).
‘Dirty Dancing’ starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey (29 July, 9.30-11.10pm, rated 12, standard ticket £15.50 / premium ticket £21.50 + booking fee).
‘Mamma Mia’ starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan (31 July, 9.30-11.20pm, rated PG, standard aged under 12 £9.50, standard adult £15.50, premium £21.50 + booking fee).
Book cinema at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne.
The Vyne – Romeo & Juliet – The Lord Chamberlain’s Men | Jack Offord
Summer Lates: Outdoor theatre
Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. The critically acclaimed Pantaloons bring a hilarious but faithful new adaptation of this Regency rom-com to the stage. 22 July, 7-9pm, adult £15, child £9.
‘Romeo and Juliet’. Shakespeare’s classic love story is brought to life by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, presented as Shakespeare would have seen it, with an all-male cast, Elizabethan costumes, music and dance. 5 August, 7-9.45pm, £19 (under 5s free).
Book theatre at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne.
Hinton, near Alresford (late July to October)
Head gardener John Wood and his team have planted nearly 1,000 dahlia tubers, to provide magnificent displays this summer. These exotic beauties can be seen all around the gardens. Rich pink Fascination fills long borders in the sunken garden. In the yew garden look out for bright orange David Howard which has beautiful dark green foliage. Eye-catching lilac and cream beauty Ferncliff Illusion lights up the kitchen garden.
Uppark – wildflower meadow | National Trust Images Andrew Butler
Best for wildflowers
Uppark, near Petersfield (June & July)
Uppark’s meadow couldn’t be more different to the rest of these landscaped gardens. Grazed by sheep in the spring, and not mown until the end of summer, it is a mass of wildflowers and delicate waving grasses by early summer – chequered snakeshead fritillaries, purple pyramidal orchids and sunny yellow rattle. Take in the sight on Uppark’s short South Meadow Walk or find a peaceful spot in the long grass to watch the butterflies – keep an eye out for flittering meadow browns and small coppers.
Also look out for….
Uppark’s mini scented garden displays fragrant lilies, sweet peas, phlox and heliotrope, known as ‘cherry pie’ because of its delicious scent. In August, a seed mix called ‘medieval tapestry’ develops into a beautiful patchwork of wildflowers in purple, blue and orange.
Summer Lates: Outdoor theatre
‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Dot Productions. In this production, full of fun and laughter, you’ll join Alice as she explores Wonderland and meets fantastical characters, from the White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat, to the Mad Hatter and the dreaded Queen of Hearts. 8 & 9 August, 2-3.30pm, all tickets £11 (single) or £40 (up to 4 people inc one adult), book at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark.
The Vyne – flower meadow | National Trust Images, Lesley Barnwell
The Vyne, near Basingstoke (July)
In July, the appearance of The Vyne’s walled garden changes dramatically, thanks to thousands of wildflowers that pop up. It’s the most amazing sight – a sea of red, white, blue and orange flowers swaying in the breeze. These colours were chosen because they’re particularly attractive to pollinating insects. There are over 50 different varieties here, including poppies and marigolds, rose campion and larkspur. The patchwork display makes a great backdrop for family selfies too.
Sandham Memorial Chapel | National Trust Image Hugh Mothersole
Sandham Memorial Chapel, near Newbury (June & July)
At the front of this unique chapel, set in the sleepy village of Burghclere, lies a little apple orchard in a meadow setting. Here you’ll find a rich assortment of flowering wildlife – yellow rattle, knapweed, poppies, oxeye daisies and orchids to name a few. It’s a lovely place to picnic – or a bench or on the ground, in the shade of a tree or out in the sun. There’s fragrant Hidcote lavender to enjoy too, fronting the almshouses in high summer, and providing nectar for bees, butterflies and moths.
Also look out for….
The cottage garden-style Garden of Reflection sits nestled behind the chapel – a tranquil place with simple oak benches and soft but vibrant planting. Foxgloves, ladies’ mantle, alliums, scabious and gerberas bring colour to the raised beds, with sweet peas providing a traditional backdrop.
Find out more about things to do at National Trust places in and around Hampshire, at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hampshire.
Words and images courtesy of the National Trust
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