Things to see in the garden at Beningbrough

Visitors in the Walled Garden at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, North Yorkshire — A year round garden with a great deal of variety to see | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Explore over eight acres of formal gardens, including newly created spaces, surrounded by parkland and mature trees. Relax among the flowers watching the wildlife at work or see what's growing in the two-acre walled garden.

This year round garden is planted with visitors in mind; something will always be at its best. Areas take on different styles and seasonally evolve. It's a garden full of beauty, wildlife, inspiration and places to pause.

The dedicated team of garden staff and volunteers can often be seen working away. Don't hesitate to ask what they're working on and any advice they might have if you've got a question.

You might find surplus plants or glut of the harvest available to pick up and take home for your pocket of green.

A garden for all seasons

Each area tends to be at its best at a different time of year and seeing the seasons change is a reason to return time after time.

Winding path through billowing floral beds on either side and oak beams overhead — Sit among the planting in the Pergola | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Early summer

Swathes of colour and billowing beds start to take centre stage as summer begins. The Pergola by award-winning designer Andy Sturgeon flourishes with Wisteria 'Alba' growing over oak beams, underplanted with bulbs, flowering shrubs and topiary. It's the perfect spot to take a seat in among the planting with the south facing wall capturing the best of the sunshine and warmth. Watch for Alliums swaying in the breeze—their distinctive white and purple globes appearing in the Pergola, South Border, and around the Pear Arch in the Walled Garden. As the herbaceous borders fill out with lush foliage, the first peonies swell ready to open with bursts of colour from the flamboyant flowers. And the summer bedding is planted in the West Formal Garden.

Path through colourful billowing flower borders on either side — The double border is a sight to behold in summer | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Summer

In the double herbaceous border, sweet and heady scents of mock orange fill the air. Pastel colours prevail here with swathes of perennials including geraniums, peonies, and anemone. Wisteria over obelisks and roses along the walls add height and further interest. The summer bedding display in the West Formal Garden will be filled out and set to wow. Elsewhere wildflowers are at their best making a nectar haven for nature. In the Walled Garden, summer fruits ripen; the Japanese wineberry is as distinctive as it is tasty. Surplus of any crops are offered for donations through the shop.

A view along a long stright path with a colourful flower border to the right — Don't miss the south border in late summer | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Late summer

The south border is anecdotally known as the St Leger border as a nod to Lady Chesterfield's entertaining during the autumn horse meet; wanting an area to look its best when hosting guests. One of her horses, Sun Castle won the stakes in 1941. Until the first frosts expect late colour and interest in the borders and along the wall here, making the most of the walled garden slip, including an array of shapes and colours from different dahlias.

Two boys laughing as one lifts a large pumpkin, other pumpkins are on display behind — From tiny and green to huge and orange - peruse the pumpkins | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Autumn colour

Trees start to take on golden tones especially the lime tree avenue on the north side of the hall, ornamental vines climbing over walls and gateways and the giant beech trees on the carriageway. A rare sight all year round is the variegated oak, known at the Duke of Cambridge tree, on the south side of the hall. It looks even more unique in autumn. The gentle progression from green tones to bronze leaves before dropping seems to mark the seasons slowly shifting over time. Don't miss the colours and textures in the walled garden from gourds, pumpkins, apples and more.

View along a walled garden with trees on walls, a hall in the distance and blue skies above — The walls help to maximise the sun in the walled garden | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Winter

Shapes and structure from the trees provide a strong framework for a winter walk. It’s the best time to see the trained espaliers or gnarly branches of mature trees, some over 300 years old and giants on the horizon. A few remaining seed heads offer structure and texture as the last of the herbaceous beds are cut back and mulched with home made leaf mould. Look out for the first signs of shoots as the new year starts with pockets of colour popping up in the borders from Scilla and Iris reticulata and snowdrops along the ha-ha walk.

A family of three, one on a mobility scooter, passing the daffodils in the gardens of Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire — Visitors exploring the gardens in spring at Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Spring

As spring unfolds, the garden is filled with fresh colour and fragrance and swathes of daffodils put on a spectacular display. Take a moment in the West Formal Garden to see the spring bedding display brighten this sheltered space near the hall. Stroll beneath the Pergola, where white daffodils and tulips bloom alongside structured topiary and oak beams, teasing for more to come. For a bold splash of colour visit the South border, swathes of tulips in among the distinctive smelling crown imperials put on a show. Late tulips give a pop of colour in among the swaying grasses of the Mediterranean Garden.

Chairs under the large canopy of cherry trees full of pink blossom — With so many fruit trees, blossom is in abundance in spring | © National Trust / Joanne Parker

Blossom watch

As the days slowly extend into spring, blossom opens, and pollinators get busy, it’s a good time to see them buzzing around the delicate petals. Different types of blossom appear over the season, generally starting in March with the peach in the glasshouse. Then in succession look out for pears in the arch and on cordons in the walled garden. Cherries in the Mediterranean Garden, crab apples along the carriageway and fruiting apples shaped into espaliers along the walls. In the orchard keep your eyes peeled for medlars, quince and almonds giving their spring time show. Join in with the buzz and share your photographs using #BlossomWatch.

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Now open - the Mediterranean Garden

Be one of the first to experience this new garden at Beningbrough which has transformed a previously grassy area into a stunning garden space by award-winning garden designer Andy Sturgeon.

Explore new pathways, hidden nooks and relaxing seating areas. Witness new beginnings as the thousands of plants, put in place by the gardens team, establish their roots and prepare to flourish in the years to come.

The water features provide a calming backdrop to the space as the water gently trickles down the rill, cascades through the metal spouts and flows into the new pond. Take your time and enjoy this new special place at Beningbrough.

Woman in a blue dress walking through a garden looking closely at a purple flower — Meander among the plants watching the butterflies flutter about | © National Trust / Anthony Chappel-Ross

Don't miss the Walled Garden

A destination in its own right, a stroll around Beningbrough's walled garden will take you through the historic pear arch and under Beningbrough's own two varieties of grapevine in the remaining glasshouse. The number of fruit trees are in the hundreds and it keeps the team of volunteers busy all year round to optimise their growths for production. Alongside the fruit, a wide range of vegetables are cultivated using traditional methods in two acres of kitchen garden, first enclosed when the walls were built in 1792. Harvested produce is used in the restaurant adding to the flavours on the menu with surplus offered for donation through the outdoor shop.

Discover Beningbrough from above in this short video.

Enjoy a bird's eye view

What if it rains?

If there's one thing we can rely on, it's the Great British weather...and not just in winter. The garden has pockets of places to take shelter from a quick shower, alternatively, even if not part of your original plan, head into the hall, restaurant or shop if the rain is more prolongued.

Borrow a brolly - ask the welcome team if you forgot to bring your own or buy a new one from the shop
Take a seat under the south facing loggia in the East Formal Garden
See what's growing in the glasshouse...the grapes have pips, just in case you're tempted!
Mooch around the potting shed, try to figure out what some of the tools were for
Imagine life as a laundry maid or reminisce about a time before machines did most of the washing
Pick a new book from the secondhand book shelves in the library

Top trees

When one of the garden team found out about the tree register, which keeps the records of 'champion trees' - the tallest or widest of each species, they felt sure that there would be some Yorkshire champions at Beningbrough...

The garden vision

The gardens at Beningbrough are no stranger to change, having been treated to redevelopment by its various masters and their differing tastes and the fashions of the time. The internationally acclaimed garden designer Andy Sturgeon has created a design that will be slowly introduced to enhance aspects of the landscape at Beningbrough.

Little detail is known about the specifics of the gardens of the past. Consequently, unlike many other National Trust properties the gardens cannot be tied to a certain era or design, allowing Andy and his team a certain amount of creative freedom to develop areas of the garden that some visitors may be less familiar with.

Keep up to date

Overhead shot showing countryside, gardens, hall, walled garden and tree lined avenue

Discover more at Beningbrough

Find out when Beningbrough is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

Beningbrough is a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) partner garden. RHS members can visit for free any day the garden is open. Free entrance is for members only and you will need your RHS membership card on the day.

Visit website

View across a gravel garden with plants, paths, water feature and seats. Surrounded by walls and trees.

Beningbrough's garden vision

Find out how award-winning landscape and garden designer Andy Sturgeon was appointed by the National Trust to help revitalise the garden at Beningbrough, the work that has already happened, as well as what is planned for the future.

Visitors walking their dogs in the garden at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, North Yorkshire

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Visitors at Brew House at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, North Yorkshire

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Eating and shopping at Beningbrough

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Four people exploring around a large wooden staircase

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Things to see in Beningbrough Hall

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A 1751 painting of a view of the main north front of Beningbrough Hall, seen from ground level and at a slight angle

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The history of Beningbrough

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Four black cows grazing on a sunny day with trees in the background at Beningbrough Hall

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The parkland at Beningbrough

The 380 acres of parkland at Beningbrough offer the chance to stretch your legs and reconnect with nature, as well as being home to wildlife including birds, rare bats and the iridescent tansy beetle. Park for free in the visitor car park before heading out on one of the routes.

Gardens and parks in Yorkshire

Enjoy Yorkshire's spring gardens and parks, from the landscaped views at Fountains Abbey, to the gardens within a garden at Wentworth Castle Gardens and newly designed areas, as seen at Beningbrough.

Gardener surrounded by plants and flowers in the foreground pruning at Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester

Gardening tips

Discover our gardeners’ top tips so you can make the most of your garden, plot or window box.

Areas A-Z

Things to do

Place types

Things to see in the garden at Beningbrough

A garden for all seasons

Early summer

Summer

Late summer

Autumn colour

Winter

Spring

Blossom watch

Now open - the Mediterranean Garden

Don't miss the Walled Garden

What if it rains?

Top trees

The garden vision

Discover more at Beningbrough

Our partners

You might also be interested in

Beningbrough's garden vision

Visiting Beningbrough with your dog

Eating and shopping at Beningbrough

Things to see in Beningbrough Hall

The history of Beningbrough

The parkland at Beningbrough

Gardens and parks in Yorkshire

Gardening tips

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust

Things to see in the garden at Beningbrough

A garden for all seasons

Early summer

Now open - the Mediterranean Garden

Don't miss the Walled Garden

What if it rains?

Top trees

Tibetan whitebeam - Sorbus thibetica ‘John Mitchell’

Duke of Cambridge oak - Quercus robur ‘Variegata’

Quince - Cydonia ‘Champion'

Ornamental cherry - Prunus 'Shirofugen'

The garden vision

Discover more at Beningbrough

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust