National Trust-Inspired Garden Ideas to Try at Home

The National Trust parks and estates highlight the timeless trends and styles, so why not recreate them in your own garden? Keep reading to find out how you can create a National Trust inspired garden, no matter how small your space may be!

1. Little Moreton Hall

‘Logically it should not still be standing up!’

This hall looms up at you as you arrive from the road, with all of its curves and eccentricities on display, gives the sense that you are entering a surrealist’s dream of architecture, and you fully expect to be greeted by a fairytale princess at the entry. Its appearance is full of interest, individuality, and character as it calls you inside. The interior is rather different in that it is austere and desolate, which, although keeping with the Tudor era that is represented, wipes out the vibrancy of what you see as you enter.

On our visit to Little Moreton Hall we were not surprised to see Box (Buxus sempervirens) being used for the knot garden, accompanied with Yew (Taxus baccata) stand alone hedging and Topiary. Box is the ideal species for creating a formal border that can be used to separate areas of a garden or in this case, create an eye catching design. Yew can grow into a lovely dense hedging that also contributes to a formal look.

Little Moreton Hall

If you would like to visit Little Moreton Hall, they are located at address: Little Moreton Hall, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4SD.

Prices:

Whole PropertyStandard
Adult£8.00
Child£4.00
Family£20.00

Quarry Bank Mill

One of Britain’s greatest industrial heritage sites, home to a complete industrial community

In the mill, you can find out about what it’s like to work at a cotton mill. Witness the motion of vintage machinery and feel the floorboards tremble beneath your feet as the spinning machines and looms turn. Discover the life and impact of Samuel Greg, the founder of Quarry Bank, who arrived in England as an infant from Belfast and went on to build a cotton empire. You may also learn more about the worldwide cotton trade at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and get a feel of the working conditions for the mill’s men, women, and children.

There is a lot to do here,  walking about the estate and into the hamlet might easily take up a whole day.

There is so much woodland to explore, you will see a river, wildlife, stunning views and bridges!

The stroll around Quarry Bank is a real delight and you will definitely get lost within the amount of plants that you will come across. An absolute treat for the bees and butterflies with many wildlife attracting shrubs. In the glasshouse gardens Dogwoods , Mexican Orange blossom and Euonymus japonicus ‘Ovatus Aureus‘ are amongst the many colourful plants, along with Lavenders and Catmint. Grasses are buried within the shrubs to add just a little extra texture. In the natural woodlands and paths you will come across a lot of English Holly that makes a great evergreen hedge and also another hit with the wildlife. On the river banking Spotted Laurel sweeps across creating a lovely textured informal hedging, you will also spot some Bamboo.

2. Quarry Bank Mill Inspired Range

If you would like to visit Quarry Bank Mill, they are located at address: Quarry Bank Mill,Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA.

Prices

Whole PropertyStandard
Adult£8.00
Child£4.00
Family£20.00
Family 1 Adult£12.00

3. Lyme Park

Glorious house, surrounded by gardens, moorland and deer park

Lyme Park, located on the outskirts of the Peak District, was once a grand estate and the home of the Legh family for nearly 500 years. It is presently under the care of the National Trust and open to the public. The grounds cover 1,400 acres and include a population of red deer. The estate is Cheshire’s biggest, and it has numerous treasures, including those from the Stuart period, as well as an amazing clock collection. There are several interesting paintings, tapestries, intricate woodwork, and spectacular baroque ceilings. The Edwardian rose garden, ravine garden, and orangery are all nicely displayed and maintained. There are several spots to take a breather or eat.

The grounds are a mix of formal hedging that borders off the different areas of the garden that are filled with shrubs, hedging and topiary. There really is lots to see at Lyme park and we were pleased to see some of our best selling species such as English Holly, Yew, Ivy and then some of our shrubs such as Berberis Ottawensis, Euonymus japonicus ‘Kathy’ and Viburnum.

Unfortunately on our visit to Lyme park, the Italian Garden was closed off due to the recent flooding, so a trip back is a definite! However, we were still able to walk round the grounds and spot some very familiar plants…

Lyme Park Inspired Range

If you would like to visit Lyme Park, they are located at address: Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR

Garden and ParkStandard
Adult£8.00
Child£4.00
Family£20.00
Group Adult£12.00

We will continue to visit National Trust parks around the country to bring you our inspired ranges. If you have any photos of your own that you would like to be featured in our Customer Gallery, please email them to marketing@hedgesdirect.co.uk with the subject line ‘National Trust’, and make sure to check out our website! Hedges and Plants | Hedging | Hedges Direct UK