Exbury Gardens is to celebrate the 70th anniversary of public opening in 2025 by restoring a ‘long-forgotten’ corner of the world-famous Hampshire woodland garden.
Launched as the popular visitor attraction re-opened for its new season, the two-year project will restore public access and uncover rare plants, trees, glades, and vistas originally created in the 1920s when the garden was established.
Virtually untouched for decades, dating back to when Exbury was requisitioned by the Navy during the Second World War, the six-and-a half-acre area will become one of the final pieces of the original gardens to be restored.
Created by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919, and still managed by the family, it has grown to become a stunning garden paradise in the New Forest filled with rare plants, shrubs and trees.
While it was conceived and started by Lionel – who was a passionate collector of plants – it was another member of the famous banking family, his son Edmund de Rothschild, who first opened them to the public in spring 1955.
Although large sections of Exbury have been transformed to their former glory, the ‘lost corner’, part of Lionel’s original garden, has remained hidden away from public gaze even though it contains magnificent specimens of trees, and flowering shrubs.
Alongside the restoration project, visitors will also be able to follow a new 70th anniversary garden trail during this year, with more details set to be revealed soon.
Exbury Gardens is renowned for its stunning collection of rare plants and trees, including spring-flowering rhododendrons and azaleas, acres of ornamental and native woodland, and beautiful herbaceous gardens.
For more details, see www.exbury.co.uk
All tourist information for Hampshire can be found at www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
Photos: View from Mrs Lionel’s seat in early spring sunshine, credit Cathryn Baldock (above) and Exbury’s azalea bowl, credit Stephen Studd (below).
