Nymans Gardens, located in West Sussex, UK, is a renowned horticultural destination, celebrated for its beauty and diverse plant collections. A cherished National Trust property, it offers a captivating experience, blending historical charm with botanical richness. Its well-maintained grounds and unique atmosphere make it a special place for garden enthusiasts and casual visitors.
Exploring the Garden’s Diverse Landscapes
The gardens at Nymans span approximately 33 acres, showcasing a remarkable array of distinct horticultural areas. Visitors can explore the walled garden, which houses a specialized collection of plants from Chile and China, including impressive magnolias that can reach heights of 10 meters. It also features double herbaceous borders that offer vibrant displays, particularly peaking in August with dahlias and cannas providing a backdrop for perennials like helianthus and aster.
A rose garden features over 150 varieties of fragrant, old-fashioned roses, centered around a bronze rose fountain by Vivien ap Rhys Pryce. The arboretum, established in the 1890s, contains champion trees and a significant collection of South American plants, making it one of the largest in the UK. The wild garden, with its Tasmanian collection, offers a contrasting, naturalistic experience.
Formal terraces and topiary gardens coexist with wilder areas like naturalistic lawns and flower meadows, creating aesthetic diversity. The Rock Garden, created by Ludwig Messel in 1902, features winding grass paths and sandstone retaining walls for smaller plants. This area bursts with over 10,000 bulbs from late winter to early spring, including galanthus, dwarf narcissi, and tulips.
The Historic House and its Story
Nymans was the cherished home of the Messel family, who began developing the estate in the late 19th century. Ludwig Messel, a German Jewish banker, purchased the property in 1890 and transformed the original Regency house into a German-style structure with the help of his brother, architect Alfred Messel. His son, Leonard Messel, inherited Nymans in 1915 and, at his wife Maud’s request, remodelled it into a mock-medieval stone manor, envisioned as her “dream house.”
A fire in 1947 largely destroyed the house’s main rooms and many family possessions, including a botanical library. Despite the devastation, the Messel family remained nearby, deeply connected to their gardens. While a portion was rebuilt, much was intentionally left as a romantic ruin, now an architectural focal point within the garden.
The romantic ruins are integrated into the garden, allowing visitors to glimpse the house’s past grandeur. A new “Garden in the Ruins” has been created within the Great Hall’s remains, which were inaccessible for 75 years. This garden incorporates plants introduced by the Messel family and their head gardeners, displayed in planters and pots, celebrating their horticultural legacy. The design includes weathered steel screens that divide the space, echoing theatrical “flats” used by Oliver Messel, a 20th-century theatre designer and grandson of Ludwig Messel.
Planning Your Visit
Nymans Gardens is in West Sussex, near Handcross, making it accessible for a day visit. The garden, café, and shop are typically open year-round from 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours until 8:30 pm on Fridays in June and July. The house generally opens from 11 am to 4 pm, though access may be limited to tours during winter months. Check the official National Trust website for current opening times, as these can vary seasonally or for special events.
Admission is approximately £17.60 for adults and £8.80 for children, with free entry for National Trust members. Children under five are admitted free. Group rates are available, and groups are encouraged to pre-book their visits. Nymans offers various facilities including a café, a plant centre, a shop, and restrooms. Picnic areas are also available for those who wish to bring their own food.
Accessibility is a consideration at Nymans, with wheelchair loan available and accessible toilets on site. While the garden primarily features gravel pathways, accessibility buggies are offered, running multiple times a day during summer months and twice daily in winter. These buggies can transport visitors through the garden and, upon request, into woodland areas. The garden offers year-round interest, with spring showcasing blossoms and magnolias, summer highlighting roses, and autumn providing vibrant foliage.