Water is the life blood that supports all life on earth and is vital to any garden. The National Garden Scheme is partnered with WWT to promote a wider understanding of the importance of wetlands and water in nature and in our gardens – we share information on how to create mini-wetlands in our gardens and how to conserve water in the increasingly hot summers. With over 1,700 National Garden Scheme gardens mentioning water in their descriptions the importance of this life-giving element is clear.
From natural swimming ponds and stately rills to barrel ponds and water gardens in Belfast sinks, the variety of water in our gardens is inspiring. While water features provide fabulous depths to garden design, it also supports a wide variety of water loving plants and attracts wildlife too.
According to research there’s a greater acreage of gardens than nature reserves in England, that’s why in a changing climate our gardens are SO important.
There are 23 million gardens in the UK, and each one, whatever their size, can play a part in reversing biodiversity loss.
The parts of your garden which feature water support more life per area than any other habitat. Whether you have a balcony, a window box, an urban patch or an acre or more, start thinking of it as an eco-system in its own right and a steppingstone in connecting habitats to create wildlife corridors.
Be inspired!
With so many of our National Garden Scheme gardens showcasing water in its myriad forms here are some of the West Sussex NGS gardens opening in July to inspire you.
NEW Thursday 26th June and Thursday 3rd July (10am-4pm)
Meadowside, West Chiltington
Designed to encourage wildlife, the formal areas are gradually being adapted. In the back garden, annual wild flowers have replaced box hedging, erigeron and chamomile have been allowed to self-seed between brick paths and paving; part of the lawn has become a wildflower area. A summerhouse looks out onto the fish pond and the deck has views over the wildlife areas and woodland beyond.
Every Thursday and Sunday 27th July (10am-4pm) pre-booking essential: The Old Vicarage, Washington
Gardens of 3½ acres set around 1832 Regency house (not open). The front is formally laid out with topiary, wide lawn, mixed border and contemporary water sculpture. The rear features new and mature trees from C19, herbaceous borders, water garden and stunning uninterrupted views of the North Downs. The Japanese garden with waterfall and pond leads to a large copse, stream, treehouse and stumpery.
Friday 11th July (9.30am-5.30pm) 2 hour timed slots pre-booking essential: Nyetimber Manor, Pulborough
Nestled below the vineyards, The Manor garden at Nyetimber is one that is rarely glimpsed. This garden has everything from extensive herbaceous borders, to orchard, flower and rose garden, and courtyard. A tapestry of topiary, reflected in the lily ponds frame a beautiful view of the South Downs. Extensively redesigned and replanted in 2020, this newly establishing garden is one not to be missed.
Opens Saturday 12th July (10.30am-5.30pm) Wiston House, Wiston
Nestled at the foot of the South Downs within a landscaped park, Wiston House has a Victorian garden under restoration. Features include a conservatory, terraced lawns with herbaceous borders, a cascade, woodland garden, Italian parterre, wildflower garden, walled vegetable garden and Victorian greenhouses.
Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th July (9.30am-5.30pm) 2 hour timed slots pre-booking essential: Sullington Old Rectory, Storrington
With a backdrop of stunning views of the South Downs, the naturalistic style of this beautiful country garden sits perfectly into the surrounding landscape. The rarely opened garden include a potager, orchard, herb garden, mature trees and shrubs, South African themed border, newly extended large perennial borders, a profusion of grasses and experimental planting in the moist meadows.
Thursday 24th and Sunday 27th July with another garden, Thakeham Place Farm (2pm-5pm): Cumberland House, Pulborough
A Georgian village house (not open), next to the C12 church with a beautiful, mature ¾ acre English country garden. The garden comprises a walled garden laid out as a series of rooms with well-stocked flower beds, two rare ginkgo trees, and yew topiary. Raised pond. This leads to an informal garden with vegetable, herb, and fruit areas, pleached limes, and a lawn shaded by a copper beech tree.
Thursday 24th and Sunday 27th July with another garden, Cumberland House (2pm-5pm): Thakeham Place Farm, Pulborough
Set in the middle of a working dairy farm, the garden has evolved over the last 35 yrs. Taking advantage of its sunny position on free draining greensand, the borders are full of sun loving plants and grasses with a more formal area surrounding the farmhouse (not open). In 2024 a new natural pond has been created in the wilder area of the garden to encourage wildlife.
Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July (11am-5pm): The Old Rectory, Pulborough
A formal front garden with sunken centrepiece and rose and flower beds of approximately ½ acre. Large rear garden consisting of small woods, croquet lawn with beds, natural swimming pond and large summerhouse, small orchard and meadow, and walled area by pickleball court. Many interesting trees including a 500 year old sweet chestnut.
Sunday 27th July (10am-5pm): Architectural Plants, North Heath
Architectural Plants is home to an ensemble of captivating garden spaces designed to inspire you. Explore the Mediterranean lake garden and surrounding bankside walk tended by Head Gardener Colin and his apprentices. Italian cypress, olives, pines, hardy palms, spiky plants, and bamboo grove. The guided tour including the large Acer house, the greenhouse of exciting and rare exotics, and a specialist Niwaki Production Zone. Prepare to enter exotica!
What your NGS garden visit does
With record donations in 2024 the power of gardens and garden visits for good causes is evident. 2024 was another landmark year for the National Garden Scheme with the charity donating a record £3,501,227 from the 2024 garden opening season. The impact of these donations to our major nursing and health beneficiaries means that thousands of people who live with health conditions such as cancer or Parkinson’s, who have poor mental health, or who struggle financially as unpaid carers, have been supported by our funding of the nurses, health professionals and case workers who support them. Our funding has also provided support to those in the Gardens and Health sector along with Community Gardens and supported gardeners through traineeships.
To learn more about the National Garden Scheme, discover your perfect garden or find out how to open your own garden, visit https://ngs.org.uk
NB Occasionally Garden are cancelled. Always check on the NGS website beforehand.
Click on this link to look at the interactive
National Garden Scheme 2025 Sussex Booklet
Garden Open Monthly links:
July…
https://ngs.org.uk/west-sussex-july-gardens/
August…
https://ngs.org.uk/west-sussex-august-gardens/
Late Openers…
https://ngs.org.uk/west-sussex-gardens-late-openers/
Open By Arrangement Gardens:
https://ngs.org.uk/west-sussex-by-arrangement-gardens/
Submitted to the Storrington Community Website using the News Item contact form.