England's Garden Heritage Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sissinghurst

Sissinghurst was created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicholson. In 1930 they bought Sissinghurst Castle, which at that time was a virtual ruin, and set about restoring the property and creating a garden. Harold laid down the formal lines and architecture creating a space laid out in a series of rooms. Vita then designed and planted these, each with a different theme and feel.

The White Garden, so called because it is planted entirely with white flowering plants, is world famous and often imitated, but never bettered. Sissinghurst is now owned by The National Trust.

Answer: Forde Abbey

Forde Abbey was originally a Cistercian monastery and the monks laid out the first gardens. Whilst most of their work has disappeared, the great pond at the top of the garden remains. This now brings water into the rest of the garden, but it was originally designed to power a water mill.

The gardens we see today were started by Sir Francis Gwyn in the early 18th century, but like all great gardens it constantly evolves and changes with each owner leaving something of themselves behind.

Answer: Hidcote

Created in the 20th century by Lawrence Johnstone, Hidcote is one of the great gardens of England. It is laid out as a series of rooms in the then fashionable "Arts and Crafts" style, and is famous for rare shrubs and trees, old roses, and of course Hidcote lavender which is sold worldwide. Johnstone started work on it in 1907 and the work carried on for the next 40 years.

In 1948 he retired to France and the garden was acquired by The National Trust. It is the first property acquired by the Trust solely for the garden.

Answer: Edwin Lutyens

Edwin Lutyens was one of the first designers to view house and gardens as one, and this can be seen clearly at Great Dixter where the gardens completely surround the house, so doing a circuit of the garden also gives you a complete view of the exterior of the house.

The home of renowned gardener Christopher Lloyd from childhood to death, the gardens, whilst retaining their basic Lutyens design, reflect his experimental and flamboyant planting schemes which were highly individual and reflected plants and colours he loved rather than any prevailing garden fashion.

Answer: Exbury

Contained within the New Forest this 200 acre garden is a riot of colour and scent in spring when the rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias that comprise the Rothschild collection are in full flower. The collection was amassed by Lionel de Rothschild who purchased the property in 1919, although Exbury House itself dates back to around 1726.

Answer: Tatton Park

The 50 acre garden at Tatton Park is around 200 years old and reflects the vogue of the 1800's for gardens within a garden. Features include an Italian garden, a rose garden and a Japanese garden. Much of the design was done by Lewis Wyatt, although Joseph Paxton, who designed Crystal Palace, was Head Gardener there for a time.

The RHS have held their annual northern garden show there since its inauguration.

Answer: Heligan

Heligan Manor was built in the 1200's and was home to the Tremayne family until the World War One. The garden was developed over some 200 years and was at its peak in the late 1890's/early 1900's. The war robbed the estate of its staff and the garden started to become overgrown.

The manor was let to tenants, including American troops, none of whom had the resources or desire to clear the gardens, and when the house was sold and split into flats the garden was lost to memory. Storm damage in 1990 revealed a small glimpse of the lost garden, which inspired Tim Smith and John Willis (a descendant of the Tremayne family) to start restoration. "The Lost Gardens of Heligan" are now famous worldwide.

Answer: Wakehurst Place

In 1965 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, leased Wakehust Place from the National Trust. Situated in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this 180 acre estate has a higher rainfall than Kew Gardens and is more suited to certain plants. It houses the national collection of birch and southern beech trees, and is also home to The Millennium Seed Bank, a project which aims to collect and preserve seed from the rarest plants on the planet, as well as having stocks of seed of the most useful plants so that these can be re-introduced should a catastrophic natural disaster occur.

Answer: Upton Grey

Gertrude Jekyll was arguably the most influential garden designer in the history of English gardening. She swept away the formal styles so loved by the Victorians replacing them with soft lines and natural sweeps and swathes of plants. She designed the gardens at Upton Grey in 1908. Somewhat smaller than many of her gardens it contained all of her trademark design features.

In 1984 the current owners purchased a virtually derelict house and overgrown garden. They were fortunate enough to discover a complete set of plans for the garden, and have restored it to its original glory. Few of the plants had survived, although some drifts of daffodils and a few trees were found, but fortunately most of the plants were still available in nurseries and garden centres, so it has been possible for the restoration to stick to Miss Jekyll's planting scheme.

Answer: Mottisfont Abbey

Best seen in the last 2/3 weeks of June (depending on weather) Mottisfont Abbey Gardens are home to the national collection of old-fashioned roses. The rose garden is set within the walled garden of the priory, the history of which dates back to the 1200's.

The rest of the garden is also well worth a visit boasting a lavender walk and magnificent herbaceous borders. The whole estate is now in the care of the National Trust, including the house which contains an unusual drawing room designed by renowned artist, Whistler.