Exbury Gardens
Discover glorious Exbury Gardens in the New Forest this summer with 200 acres of woodland landscape, rare plants and stunning floral displays to explore, plus a full programme of nature-themed holiday events for kids.
Visitors will be treated to a seasonal riot of plant colour in the herbaceous borders near Exbury House, exotic blooms in the Sundial Garden, the recently-opened Centenary Garden in full summer floral show, a new Birch Walk, and hordes of elegant hydrangeas.
They can wander the swathes of beautiful landscaped woodland next to the Beaulieu River, over 20 miles of meandering pathways, and ride on Exbury’s famous steam railway which is back on track for passengers.
For families seeking safe staycation ideas, Exbury will be holding specially-adapted, nature-themed activities for kids every week over the school summer holidays (28 July – 28 August). From bird box-making to bushcraft skills, falconry displays to constructing a mini garden, and even a reptile academy and donkey day for animal lovers, the events are all being organised with Covid-19 safety in mind. Numbers will be limited, pre-booking for small family groups only will be essential, and strict hygiene and social distancing measures will be in place. To book visit www.exbury.co.uk.
The iconic woodland garden was one of the first UK gardens to reopen to the public and has since safely welcomed thousands of visitors through its gates. Exbury is a proud holder of Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ certification, showing it adheres to current Government and public health guidance.
Robin Savill, Head of Operations at Exbury Gardens, said: “We have 200 acres of open space at Exbury, so social distancing is easy and there’s so many different parts of this spectacular garden to explore. We’re delighted to be offering an events programme for families over the summer as we know parents will be looking for safe, outdoor activity ideas for their children.”
To book a visit to Exbury Gardens, the public must pre-book tickets online. A daily visitor limit is in place, and there are time slots for entering the gardens, so arrivals can be staggered. Mr Eddy’s Restaurant is open every day serving refreshments, lunchtime snacks and sweet treats. Full details on how to book and tips on visiting can be found at www.exbury.co.uk.
Created by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919, a passionate collector of plants and a keen supporter and sponsor of the early 20th century plant hunters, Exbury has grown to become a stunning garden paradise filled with rare plants, shrubs and trees. Its Centenary Garden, designed by Lionel’s great grand-daughter and RHS gold medal award-winning designer, Marie-Louise Agius, opened to the public last year.
28 July: Bird Box Making
29 July: Donkey Day
31 July: Bushcraft
3 August: Make a Mini Garden
10 August: Bird Box Making
14 August: Bushcraft
17 August: Make a Mini Garden
19 August: Falconry Day
25 August: Make a Mini Garden
28 August: Reptile Academy
