Brantwood

About the garden

Brantwood is the former home of John Ruskin, an eminent Victorian art critic and social reformer. In his garden, Ruskin experimented with planting and altering watercourses and his Grade II listed house is now a museum surrounded by a 250-acre estate on the shores of Coniston Water. Many original plants survive, such as Joan’s maples and apple trees.

The estate also includes ancient coppice woods, carpets of bluebells, a species-rich traditional hay meadow and an orchid-rich heathland on Crag Head. The land is home to nationally rare flora and fauna, and each season, different areas reach their peak, taking you through spring bulbs and rhododendrons, bluebell woods, ferns, summery herbaceous borders, a hay meadow, autumn colour in the estate and Maple Walk, the Moss Garden and spectacular lake views on crisp winter days.

In 2022, the team began a collaboration with the Plant Heritage Northern Wisteria Collection, planting 20 Wisteria floribunda cultivars along the Trellis Walk and other species around the house and cafe.