Markshall Estate

About the garden

Located just off the A120 between Colchester and Braintree, Markshall is a must-visit location! The charitable trust cares for a 200-acre arboretum, home to trees and plantings from every temperate area. As well as stunning formal gardens, the Walled Gardens sit in the heart of the landscape. Here you’ll find the longest herbaceous border in the county, five separate gardens and all set within the original 17th century walls.

For more than 1,000 years, Markshall was like any other British estate; owned by a single family and operated principally for the benefit of the owner. The previous owner, Thomas Phillips Price, left the estate as a gift to the nation in his 1927 will, "for the advancement of agriculture, arboriculture and forestry". In 1971, Markshall Estate Charitable Trust was established and in the early 1990s opened to the public.

Today, you can explore a world of trees as you stroll through the geographic zones, admiring plantings on a mass scale. Walk through Essex countryside, discover trees native to Asia, as well as North America and marvel at the largest collection of Wollemi pines in Europe surrounded by eucalyptus trees in Gondwanaland. You may even meet one of our resident peacocks Percy and George as you explore.

Visitors can explore natural play areas, enjoy tasty treats from the Orchard Kitchen Café and browse the plant centre for Markshall Estate inspiration before completing their visit. It's the perfect day out for everyone!