Explore the garden’s key features
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From climate-resilient trees to flowers that are loved by pollinators and larger wildlife, the plants have all been hand-picked to help bring the vision for the garden to life.
Commonly known as Amur maackia, this small tree has white, pea-shaped flowers. It can grow to 12m high and can withstand the coldest winters in Europe.
This moisture-loving perennial grows to around 70cm. It has grey-green foliage and unusual yellow flowers, with maroon-red veining that appears from May to September.
A bulbous perennial that grows to 75cm tall, with strap-shaped, basal leaves. Maroon-purple flowers, with an unusual ‘topknot’ or tuft, appear in late spring and summer.
The garden features 3,600 native and non-native plants, many of which are attractive to pollinators. For example, Celtis sinensis is a tree that’s very tolerant to air pollution, providing nectar for pollinators, butterflies and bees through its green flowers, while its orange autumn berries are a food source for birds and mammals. The creamy flowers of Clematis vitalba also provide food and even nesting material for a range of pollinators and small mammals.
Paths lead to a garden building designed by architect Giles Jollands and made by Sam Ogilvie. Habitat has been incorporated into the building with thatch walls and a planted canopy to provide nectar for pollinators, with an upper-level wildlife observation platform.
Inspired by patterns found in nature, the platform co-exists with the garden and offers alternative ways to watch wildlife, as well as forming a habitat hub for the wider garden.
This garden shows what can be achieved when working to the highest environmental standards. Reclaimed brick, timber and stone, sourced from places in the Trust’s care, have been used where possible, with low-carbon or carbon-locking build techniques used throughout.
In each of the seven rooms there are recycled stone flag floors, which feed into the crushed recycled aggregate, which is sourced from National Trust reclamation stock yards and used on paths throughout the garden. Reclaimed timber steps also stretch through the garden.
The garden’s hand-carved timber benches are designed by thewoodcarver Kate Hanrahan. Kate has used storm-felled oak from National Trust estates – which has been milled and supplied as fresh timber – to create her feature pieces.
The benches are highly tactile, accessible for those with limited vision, and encourage people to take a moment with the surrounding nature and wildlife. She’s used hand tools to create finely observed natural textures, like ripples on sand and water, inviting coast and countryside into the heart of London.
The calming presence of water can be found throughout the garden in several places. Water chutes cantilever out from the retaining wall and stretch through the aquatic planting, while there’s also a pond that encourages wildlife to create habitats and use the surrounding area. For exploring the wilder areas of the garden, there’s also a stream with a stepping stone pathway.
The garden is designed to be as accessible as possible for everyone. The sloping paths are all accessible to wheelchairs and include wheelchair passing spaces. The garden also features an installation by sound artist Justin Wiggan, in celebration of Octavia’s legacy. His soundscapes will connect people more deeply with the garden and provide an immersive experience for visitors who are visually impaired or blind. These will also become available for anyone to download, remix and share.
Download the sonic seed kit
