Tour of the garden

Setting the scene

RHS Garden Hyde Hall is set on a hilltop in the heart of rural Essex surrounded by arable farmland. The site can become extremely windswept and is exposed to harsh conditions throughout the year. The soil is predominantly heavy Essex clay with a pH of between 6 and 6.8. This is improved and cultivated by incorporating sand, grit and compost to reduce the risk of water logging in the winter, and cracking and baking in the dry summer months. We create our own green waste compost from garden waste and our nursery has been peat free since 2001. Very few chemicals are used in the garden and combining all of this with our sympathetic gardening towards wildlife makes Hyde Hall a flagship for sustainable horticultural practices.

Hyde Hall is in an area of Essex that has very low rainfall, and this factor combined with the soil conditions and exposed nature of the site makes it a challenging area to garden in. A visit will show that by choosing the right plants for the right places and by working with the prevailing conditions, it is possible to create a garden of inspirational beauty and horticultural excellence.

Plan of the garden

Garden highlights

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