The Laskett Gardens
The Laskett, near Much Birch, Herefordshire
Sir Roy Strong and Lady Strong's formal garden near Much Birch in Herefordshire, closed for the 2026 season while its owner, the charity Perennial, explores a sale.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit The Laskett Gardens?
The Laskett is closed to visitors for the 2026 season, and its future as a public garden is uncertain. The charity Perennial, which accepted the property from Sir Roy Strong in 2021, announced in March 2026 that its board had decided the only viable option was to explore a sale, and the house and garden were placed on the open market. As of August 2026 they remained for sale, so anyone hoping to visit should check Perennial's website for news before making plans.
The garden itself is one of the most personal creations of its era. Sir Roy Strong and his wife Julia, Lady Strong, bought the rural property near Much Birch in 1973 and over the next thirty years built the garden from scratch, shaping a formal garden in which the influence of Italy is strong, a theme Strong has explored in talks about it. It has been recorded in commissioned paintings by Jonathan Myles-Lea, Richard Shirley Smith and Paul Brason.
For gardeners, the Laskett's value lies in its story: proof that a large, structured formal garden could be made by one couple on an empty site in the late 20th century. Sir Roy Strong described its making in The Laskett: The Story of a Garden (2003) and its later changes in Remaking a Garden: The Laskett Transformed (2014). Both books are a good way to get to know the garden while the gates are shut.
What to see
- A formal garden created from scratch by Sir Roy and Lady Strong from 1973.
- Italian influences in a late 20th-century English formal garden.
- A garden recorded in paintings by Jonathan Myles-Lea, Richard Shirley Smith and Paul Brason.
- Two books by Sir Roy Strong describing its making and later remaking.
The Laskett Gardens through the year
- spring
- The garden is closed for the 2026 season, so spring visits are not possible this year; check Perennial's website for any change.
- summer
- No summer opening is planned for 2026 while a sale is explored.
- autumn
- The garden remains closed this autumn, and news of any future opening will come from Perennial or a new owner.
- winter
- The garden is closed; Sir Roy Strong's books about it are the best way to explore it for now.
The story behind the garden
Sir Roy Strong, the historian and former museum director, and his wife Julia, Lady Strong, bought The Laskett in 1973 and spent the next thirty years creating the garden from scratch. In 2015 Strong announced that he would leave the property to the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society, known as Perennial, and the charity accepted the gift in 2021. Perennial runs a small number of gardens, including York Gate near Leeds, to raise funds for people working in horticulture.
In early 2026 it was reported that the garden would close for the season, citing dwindling visitor numbers and a lack of adequate visitor amenities. In March the charity confirmed it would explore a sale, and the property was listed through a Hereford estate agent.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Garden history readers and admirers of Sir Roy Strong, who may want to follow news of the garden's future while it is closed.
- Getting there
- The Laskett is in rural Herefordshire near the village of Much Birch, south of Hereford. It is not open to visitors at present.
- Before you go
- The Laskett is closed for the 2026 season and has been on the market, so do not travel expecting to get in. Check Perennial's official page for the latest news on opening.
Source: Perennial: The Laskett Garden
Questions about visiting The Laskett Gardens
Is The Laskett open to visitors?
No. The Laskett is closed for the 2026 season. Perennial, the charity that owns it, decided in March 2026 to explore a sale, and the house and garden were still on the market in August 2026.
Who created The Laskett?
Sir Roy Strong and his wife Julia, Lady Strong, created The Laskett. They bought the property near Much Birch in 1973 and built the garden from scratch over the following thirty years.
Why is The Laskett for sale?
Perennial cited dwindling visitor numbers and a lack of adequate visitor amenities. After discussion, its board decided unanimously that the only viable option was to explore a potential sale of the garden.
Who owns The Laskett?
The Laskett is owned by Perennial, the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society. Sir Roy Strong announced the bequest in 2015 and Perennial accepted the gift in 2021; the property has since been put up for sale.
Garden features
Location
The Laskett, near Much Birch, Herefordshire
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