Mapperton Gardens Voted Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2020

Mapperton Gardens have been voted the Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2020.

Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s, recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal.

Mapperton Gardens, near Beaminster, received nearly a quarter of all votes from the public for a shortlist of eight gardens from across the country, as selected by Historic Houses, a co-operative association of independent historic houses and gardens.

The Garden of the Year is not judged by professional gardeners. It is voted for by the general public who judge the gardens purely based on their enjoyment.

Mapperton, the family home of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich, is one of the most important and distinctive gardens in the country. Registered Grade II*, it is among a handful of the top gardens in the south west. Its gardens are famous for their romantic setting, their varied planting and their sense of tranquility.

Tucked into a steep north-south combe, in the heart of West Dorset, the gardens descend from the formal topiary gardens and orangery to the north to an arboretum, beyond which the land unfolds in small, steep valleys and headlands down to the sea five miles away.

Lady Sandwich says, “John and I are delighted Mapperton Gardens has won the Historic Houses Garden of the Year award. It’s lovely for us and it’s such a wonderful endorsement of all the work  everyone has put into the garden. It’s not just the achievement of this extremely difficult year, but of all the work of the past years.

“Thank you to all the people who voted for us all over the world; we are very grateful. We hope the gardens will have many more visitors to enjoy the peace and calm, and the special trees and shrubs. We are open till mid December. Come and enjoy the tranquility and autumn colour.”

Mapperton Gardens are now open Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 5pm.  The Winter Special Offer price for November and December is £5 for adults, free for under 16’s until 17 December. Garden tickets should be purchased in advance and are available online.