Gravetye Manor & Gardens

The gardens at Gravetye Manor are a very special place and can be considered among the most influential in British gardening history. The manor became the home of the creative, innovative and revolutionary gardener, William Robinson in 1884. Robinson spent his remarkable life as a professional gardener and botanist but made his fortune through writing about his experiences and ideas on horticulture. His most notable works include The English Flower Garden, which is one of the best-selling horticultural books of all time, and the hugely influential title, The Wild Garden.

Robinson’s ideas about naturalised plantings allowing nature to flow into the garden were ground-breaking. Previous to Robinson’s books, gardens were places where nature was controlled and suppressed, meticulously managed, with carpet bedding and topiary. Robinson travelled the world studying plants in their natural habitat and spent years discussing how the beauty of these habitats might be replicated in the garden. This paved the way for much that we take for granted today in modern garden design. After years of studying, gardening and writing, Robinson came to Gravetye and it was here he put his ideas into practice.

Today Gravetye is a mature, charming and very beautiful garden. The wild garden tumbles down its south facing slopes into the contrasting formal areas, and wherever you are in the garden there is always a stunning view of the surrounding countryside.

Converted to a boutique hotel in 2010, the gardens at Gravetye are under the experienced care of Tom Coward, Head Gardener, who previously worked alongside Fergus Garrett at Great Dixter.

https://www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/the-manor-gardens/