Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is one of the great tree and shrub collections of the world, spread over 180 acres just outside Romsey in Hampshire. It holds over 42,000 trees and shrubs in about 12,000 different kinds, 14 National Plant Collections and 611 champion trees, more than any other garden in Britain and Ireland. The gardens are laid out in a series of areas designed to give interest all year round.

Start at Jermyn's House and walk down Magnolia Avenue, planted by Sir Harold and now fully mature. From there you can explore the Centenary Border, now the longest double mixed border in the country, the Himalayan Valley with its azaleas, rhododendrons and hydrangeas, the Acer Valley under mature oaks, and the Valley of Fire, lined with North American maples, sweet gum and cherries. The Rhododendron Woodland holds around 1,300 kinds of rhododendron, and the Pond and Bog Garden have swamp cypresses, bamboos and huge gunnera. There is also a Peony Border with around 70 varieties, a Wisteria Border, a Heather Garden, meadows with orchids and the Gurkha Memorial Garden with plants from Nepal.

Gardeners come away with plenty of ideas, especially from the Winter Garden. Covering more than four acres, it is one of the largest in Europe, with over 800 plants chosen for bark, coloured stems, scent and foliage between November and March, and it holds the National Collection of witch hazels. It was built with reclaimed soil, compost made from garden waste and recycled materials. The Visitor Pavilion has a restaurant, gift shop and gallery, and Jermyn's House has tea rooms.