RHS Member Offer Blooms at Historic Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, the iconic Grade I listed woodland gardens in Lower Beeding, West Sussex, has entered an exciting new chapter in its partnership with the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), with new plantings and garden attractions for 2024.
As of January 2022, the gardens gained RHS Partner Garden status, allowing RHS members free entry during selected periods. RHS members can now explore Leonardslee’s spectacular 240-acre site for:
Any day: December – February & July – September
Monday & Tuesday only: March – June & October – November (except bank holidays)
This membership offer comes as Leonardslee completes one of its grandest garden restoration and replanting programmes since reopening to the public in 2019 after a seven-year closure.
Jamie Harris, Head Gardener at Leonardslee, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the UK’s leading gardening charity as an RHS Partner Garden. Our shared commitment to inspire future generations about horticulture made this a hugely positive and natural partnership. We look forward to welcoming RHS members to experience our breathtaking landscapes and rediscover our magnificent woodland gardens.”
Rare Plants and Awards
As an RHS Partner Garden, Leonardslee actively engages in the RHS mission to educate and enrich lives through plants. Leonardslee has propagated and preserved rare plant material from its unrivalled rhododendron collection, sending specimens of vulnerable varieties including all of the famous Loderi hybrids to Duchy College in Cornwall. This aids Plant Heritage’s vital conservation efforts for threatened cultivars that are commercially extinct.
Leonardslee also made a triumphant return to the RHS competition circuit in 2023, claiming three top accolades at the prestigious RHS Wisley Spring Show, run in conjunction with the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group. This firmly re-established Leonardslee as a world-class garden with an astonishing plant collection.
In addition, Leonardslee’s rare ‘The Dowager’ rhododendron won the People’s Choice Award in the Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year competition, with the prize-giving at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. This iconic pink rhododendron is believed to be one of the last specimens of its kind left in the world. The award boosts awareness of endangered heritage plants and Leonardslee’s stellar efforts to preserve them.
New Plantings at Leonardslee
Alongside its trailblazing RHS partnership, Leonardslee has undertaken an extensive multi-year restoration plan since reopening. Over 280 new hydrangeas were planted last year alone to heighten summer interest across the gardens. Varieties include the large-panicled ‘White Goliath’, conical-headed ‘Snow Queen’ oakleaf hydrangeas, and exciting new repeat-flowering lace-cap introductions like rich pink ‘Pink Diamond’.
Additionally, Leonardslee planted over 32,000 bulbs, to be enjoyed this spring, with carpets of winter aconites, snowdrops and glory-of-the-snow already emerging by pathways and lakes. The Victorian rock garden has also seen some replanting, with a fresh-themed border of exotic ‘jungle’ plants.
Significant restoration works have also uncovered ‘lost’ Edwardian herbaceous borders and regal house garden vistas. Derelict areas are being steadily repaired after decades of abandonment, with the former ‘Pleasure Grounds’ hillside garden earmarked as the next zone to reopen in 2024.
Visitors will notice smarter lawns, resurfaced footpaths, revitalised planting schemes and many stunning young specimen trees gracing the landscape, including bee-friendly sorbus, magnolias and eucalyptus. Important conservation initiatives are also embedded into operations under Jamie’s stewardship, from extensive invasive species removal to creating new wildlife habitats with log piles and hibernacula.
“We cannot wait for more RHS members and visitors to witness Leonardslee awakening in all its glory as restorations gather pace,” said Jamie. “From relandscaped lawns to our flourishing rhododendron collection, we hope visitors will truly enjoy the gardens’ full splendour once again.”
Leonardslee Visitors Attractions
Leonardslee offers visitors an array of attractions and they can encounter native wildlife first-hand, including wallabies, a graceful deer herd and carp gliding through the seven tranquil lakes.
Foodies can indulge at Interlude, the on-site Michelin Star restaurant where Head Chef Jean Delport blends seasonal, regional and contemporary influences into exquisite tasting menus. Guests can fully immerse themselves in Leonardslee’s beauty by staying overnight in one of 10 bespoke bedrooms, each paying homage to the gardens’ rich heritage.
Art lovers will delight in the open-air sculpture park showcasing Surrey Sculpture Society artists and internationally renowned South African sculptor Anton Smit among beautiful backdrops. Leonardslee welcomes well-behaved dogs too.
Leonardslee is a perfect venue for private events from weddings to corporate functions, with the meticulous Victorian rock garden and Camellia Grove providing picture-perfect settings. The Dolls’ House Museum offers a delightful experience for visitors young and old.
Finally, the Clocktower Kitchen features a new menu with comforting hot dishes in the winter in a relaxed indoor area, perfect for refuelling while admiring the outstanding views close by.
