Stone Lane Gardens

About the garden

This spectacular woodland and water garden on the edge of Dartmoor National Park enchants and inspires in every season. Famous for its National Collection of birch and alder trees and its naturalistic design, the garden is threaded with pools and streams, while gleaming tree bark in myriad shades is complemented by a varied tapestry of shade-loving plants.    

Stone Lane Gardens started life back in the early 1970s initially as a private water garden, then as space for Kenneth Ashburner to start planting the birch and alder trees he was collecting on trips abroad. Gradual and artfully planned landscaping created the framework of the garden visitors see today – a garden of unusual and beautiful trees, many of them rarely seen in the UK. The arboretum has recently been extended with new plantings in wildflower meadows, enhanced by spectacular views across to the high moor.    

During the summer months, the garden hosts a popular summer sculpture exhibition, an important showcase for artists from the South West and beyond since 1992, with work placed artfully among the trees. It is an idea place to bring the family, as children love to discover the sculptures, tucked away around every corner.

Please note: The garden has EV charging points.