Hergest Croft Gardens
Hergest Croft, Kington, Herefordshire
A family-owned garden of trees and shrubs on the edge of Kington, close to the Welsh border, best known for its maples, birches and a long season of autumn colour.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Hergest Croft Gardens?
Hergest Croft Gardens is a tree and shrub garden on the edge of Kington in Herefordshire, just below Hergest Ridge and close to the border with Wales. It has been made by the Banks family over several generations, and it is a garden that rewards anyone who enjoys trees, with a large collection gathered over more than a century.
As you walk round you move between more cultivated areas near the house and wilder ground beyond, including old woodland where rhododendrons and other shrubs grow under tall trees. The garden is especially associated with maples and birches, and Country Life has described its autumn display as a cathedral of autumn. Expect bark, leaf shape and colour to be the stars rather than bedding or formal borders. The garden is registered by Historic England for its special historic interest.
For home gardeners, Hergest Croft is a good place to compare trees before planting one. Seeing maples and birches side by side at maturity helps you judge eventual size, bark interest and autumn colour, which matters far more in a small garden than in a large one. Bring walking shoes, as the ground is hilly in places. If you want a longer day out, the Offa's Dyke Path climbs onto Hergest Ridge from the road end beyond the gardens, giving wide views over the border country.
What to see
- See the maples and birches the garden is known for, especially in autumn.
- Walk through the woodland, where rhododendrons and shrubs grow beneath tall trees.
- Compare mature trees side by side to judge size, bark and leaf colour before planting your own.
- Continue up the Offa's Dyke Path onto Hergest Ridge to find the monkey puzzle trees planted in 1988.
Hergest Croft Gardens through the year
- spring
- Rhododendrons and other flowering shrubs bring colour to the woodland as the trees come into leaf.
- summer
- The tree collection is in full leaf, making this a cool, shady garden for a summer walk.
- autumn
- This is the garden's best-known season, with maples and birches giving a long run of leaf colour.
- winter
- The garden is seasonal, so check the official site for opening dates before planning a winter trip.
The story behind the garden
Hergest Croft has been in the hands of the Banks family for generations, and the garden is very much a family creation, built up as each generation added trees and shrubs to the collection. The garden is on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens.
The family's interest in trees reaches beyond the garden wall. In April 1988 a group of eight monkey puzzle trees, Araucaria araucana, was planted on nearby Hergest Ridge on behalf of Richard (Dick) Banks of Hergest Croft, who had seen similar trees growing in the high Andes while travelling in Argentina and Chile. Those trees now form a landmark on the ridge above Kington. More recently the garden has been shortlisted in a national search for the best garden in the UK, a sign of how well regarded its collection has become.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Tree and shrub enthusiasts, anyone choosing a maple or birch for their own garden, and walkers heading for Hergest Ridge.
- Getting there
- Hergest Croft is on the western edge of Kington in Herefordshire, near the Welsh border and just east of Hergest Ridge.
- Before you go
- Autumn weekends can be the busiest time, so arrive early if you are coming for leaf colour. Check the official Hergest Croft website for current opening times and tickets.
Questions about visiting Hergest Croft Gardens
When is the best time to visit Hergest Croft Gardens?
Autumn is the best-known time, when the maples and birches colour up. Spring is also good for rhododendrons in the woodland. The garden opens seasonally, so check the official website for dates.
Who owns Hergest Croft Gardens?
Hergest Croft is owned by the Banks family, who have built up the garden over several generations. The family's interest in trees includes the monkey puzzles planted on Hergest Ridge in 1988 on behalf of Dick Banks.
Where is Hergest Croft Gardens?
Hergest Croft is on the edge of Kington in Herefordshire, close to the border with Wales. The Offa's Dyke Path leads onto Hergest Ridge from the road end beyond the gardens.
Is Hergest Croft good for tree lovers?
Yes. It is above all a tree and shrub garden, known for maples and birches and for autumn colour. It is a useful place to see trees at full size before choosing one for your own garden.
Garden features
Location
Hergest Croft, Kington, Herefordshire
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