Sherborne Castle and Gardens
Free RHS Member days
10am–5pm, Wednesday, 3 April–2 November. Plus daily, 1 October–31 October (6, 13 and 20 October excluded)
About the garden
The Grade I-listed garden at Sherborne Castle has a long history dating back to the 11th century. Its features have undergone many changes over time, though small clues and reminders of the past remain, such as Dinney’s Bridge, Raleigh’s Seat and Pope’s Seat.
A 50-acre lake forms the backdrop to a 42-acre garden with sweeping lawns, magnificent herbaceous borders and majestic specimen trees. Champion trees include a renowned Ginkgo, cedar of Lebanon, Highclere holly and holly oak. Delightful walks around the lake lead to features such as the cascade, Earl Henry’s Bridge and the folly. Shorter walks lead to the courtyard gardens, the ‘Ginkgo Lawn’, the orangery, and the boathouse and pier, offering stunning views of the old castle ruins.
In summer, colour and fragrance are provided in the informal herbaceous borders. Autumn brings dazzling reflections of about 40 cultivars of Japanese maples in the lake, while in winter, early snowdrops and winter aconites carpet the ground, showing that the garden is alive year-round.
Facilities
- Parking
- Toilets
Key features
- Woodland
- Herbaceous border
- Pond or lake
- Autumn colour
- Champion trees
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.