From its iconic Dry Garden to exciting new features, our Essex garden goes from strength to strength. From its iconic Dry Garden to exciting new features, our Essex garden goes from strength to strength.

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Island Beds and Lawns

Six Island Beds carved out of Hyde Hall's vast expanse of lush lawn, each has evolved informally and are being refreshed on an ongoing basis

Looking its best in...

Spring Blossom from Malus, Magnolia and scented Viburnum
Summer A rich palette of perennials including alliums, echinacea and daylilies
Winter Sweetly-scented Viburnum, striking dogwood stems and brilliant blue and yellow Iris reticulata

Evolving design

Hyde Hall's Island Beds were created by the Robinsons in the 1970s – an era in which this garden concept was a firm favourite.

Over time, the planting and shapes of the beds has evolved. Some have been extended into walkways allowing visitors to get closer to the planting and others have transformed with the changing boundaries of surrounding garden areas.

Stand-out collection

One of the beds originally housed the Plant Heritage National Plant Collection of Viburnum, much of which has now been distributed around the garden so that selections can be enjoyed in different settings. The specimens that remain include some of the most exquisitely scented, such as Viburnum carlesii and V. farreri ‘Farrer’s Pink’.

Perennials, such as alliums, salvias and Anthriscus (cow parsley), play a key role in the beds in May and June, while a particularly large and fine specimen of Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ draws compliments when at its best in summer. Interesting trees are also found here, including Quercus cerris ‘Argenteovariegata’ and Malus ‘Butterball’.

Colour in the colder months

The newest bed, set against a backdrop of established evergreens, is home to the RHS Plant Trial of Iris reticulata – their delightfully scented, intensely blue and yellow flowers will provide a colourful highlight through January and February over the next few years.

Our lawns

Much admired by Hyde Hall's visitors, the lush lawns around Hilltop are a source of pride to our gardeners. They spend five hours each week cutting, nurturing, feeding and maintaining the 5,300 sq m (57,000 sq ft) of bowling green-worthy grass.

Twice-weekly cuts during the season and a regular pattern of feeding with granular and liquid feed ensures a healthy carpet of grass. The lawns are watered entirely with rainwater, collected and stored in Hyde Hall’s reservoir.

Plants in the Island Beds

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Read our expert advice on lawn care »

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.