The Gardens at Holker
“The garden is magical – formal areas look stunning with the varied tulips and the woodland plants twinkle between the light and shade of the tree canopy.”
Mr & Mrs Taylor, Bolton.
The immaculately kept gardens (25 acres in all) are part woodland and part formal garden. These are complimented by the 200-acre 'natural' parkland, which is the result of late 18th century planting by Lord George Cavendish. Over generations the family have continued to develop the gardens and they are constantly evolving as new plantings are made or new ideas are born and Lord and Lady Cavendish continue to make changes and additions to these gardens.
A brand new landscape project is in the process of being carried out; as this project takes shape, we will be providing details and pictures.
We are often asked when is the best time of year to visit the gardens here at Holker, which is a difficult question to answer. The gardens are carefully crafted to create a stunning impact throughout the seasons. Thanks to the work of the Head Gardener, Yvonne Cannon and her team you can spend hours delving deeper into the gardens and be constantly surprised by new species and varieties.
Spring heralds the arrival of thousands of bulbs. The carefully selected colours give a sense of harmony and a glimpse of the detail and care that has gone into developing these gardens. The magnificent rhododendrons and azaleas then lead into summer, when the roses and herbaceous borders packed with summer flowering perennials, really come into their own. Autumn plays host to a truly inspiring colourful display, thanks to Lord and Lady Cavendish’s passion for collecting trees and shrubs. In winter the clean, crisp lines of the topiary and the woodland garden take on a calming, silent air. On your wanderings you will be captivated by the peace and tranquillity of the gardens. The friendly ambiance invites you to sit and reflect.
Other highlights...
- Not to be missed are the spectacular displays of rhododendrons in the spring. The magnificent blooms are unusually large specimens and many are fragrant.
- The Great Holker Lime, this awe-inspiring tree measures 7.9 metres in girth. It was probably planted as part of a formal garden in the early 17th century. Today its huge trunk stands in a cavern of overhanging branches. In 2002 Holker's Great Lime was awarded the distinction of being one of Britain's 50 Great Trees, in honour of Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee.
- Lord and Lady Cavendish are also National Collection holders for the plant family of Styracaceae, which also includes genera such as Halesia, Styrax, and Pterostyrax.