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Passed from the Crown into private ownership in 1685, the gardens and parkland were initially laid out at the beginning of the 19th century. Future owners continued to expand the gardens with much of the landscape we see today developed by Edmund Loder and his grandson, Giles Loder. Edmund, a dedicated plantsman, strived between 1889 until his death in 1920 to collect plants, establish gardens, and collect rare animals to amplify the site. His grandson, a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, continued this legacy. However, with the house and gardens later sold, the site was closed to the public in 2010 with the gardens neglected and left to grow wild.
Happily for the estate, however, the present owners, acquired the site with the goal of restoring the site to its former glory. Thanks to them, it has been the subject of the largest garden restoration in England, ensuring that this precious Sussex gem will be available for future generations to visit and enjoy. It re-opened to the public in 2019.
Leonardslee’s gardens are famed for outstanding displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias, bluebells and a beautiful ornamental rock garden.
There are numerous walks to explore throughout the 240-acres of Grade I Listed Gardens, parkland, lawns and forest areas, with an abundance of fascinating fauna as well as flora. You can even see a rare colony of wallabies introduced in 1889, as well as several species of deer.
So against this wonderful backdrop, how do you go about organising a new sculpture trail?
Reithe R - Susan Young
Celestial Vessel - Teresa Martin
Baby(be careful he bites) - Doda Sobieniewska