A new dedicated bridge into RHS Wisley is now open. If travelling by car, visitors who would normally access the garden from the A3 will now use Ockham Park roundabout and follow new signage onto the bridge and over the A3 to the existing RHS Wisley entrance. Find out more

Heather Landscape and Grass Garden

Howard’s Field is a quiet, contemplative clearing, home to some fine specimen trees, the National Plant Collection of heathers – one of the largest heather collections in the UK – and an ornamental Grass Garden

Ribbons of colour

Wisley has had a good collection of heathers since the 1920s when then-Director Frank Chittenden planted the Heath Garden on Seven Acres.

In 1987 the collection was given National Plant Collection status and was relocated to Howard’s Field. Now it has been revitalised once more and around 25,000 heathers, including 900 cultivars - 162 of which are considered endangered - appear in the Heather Landscape.

See heathers in a new light

We have been busy repropagating and redesigning the heather collection, ready to show Erica, Calluna and Daboecia in an inspiring new light.

The Heather Landscape features ‘ribbons’ of contrasting colours. The unusual companion planting includes Yucca rostrata and globe artichokes, and ornamental grasses that have been moved from Seven Acres.

Grass Garden

Home to a spectacular late summer collection of ornamental grasses, thriving in the Grass Garden are Miscanthus, Cortaderia, Liriope and Ophiopogon – the latter of which are not true grasses.

Generous drifts of nerines herald the arrival of autumn. Planted among the grasses, companion plants entice pollinators to the garden and add extra interest throughout the year.

Dainty autumn carpets

In autumn, colonies of Cyclamen bloom beneath the trees, creating dainty carpets of pink. You can see more delightful displays of Cyclamen in the Rock Garden, Alpine Meadow and Alpine Display House.

Another beautiful autumn bulb to look out for is Colchicum - you'll find 1,500 of these pink and white autumn crocus planted on Seven Acres and the Glasshouse Landscape.

Look up

Howard’s Field also has some choice and unusual trees, such as Betula (birch), Catalpa (Indian bean tree), Prunus (cherry) and an impressive copse of a German form of Scots pine, selected for its very fine orange bark.

Other notable specimen trees include:

  • Carpinus tschonoskii (2.62m girth)
  • Ilex aquifolium ‘J.C. van Tol’ (holly; 0.78m girth)
  • Prunus x juddii (10m tall, 2.77m girth)

Space for wildlife

In 1998, a wildlife conservation area was established on the banks of the river Wey. It covers about 1.2ha (3 acres) of wooded floodplain with an oxbow lake.

It is not usually open to the public, apart from occasional, planned open days, but it can be viewed from Howard’s Field, and you can use the Bird Hide to view the birdlife in this area. 

Take a seat

While you are enjoying this part of the garden, why not take time to sit and enjoy Harry’s Pavilion, named after Harry Howard, a local farmer who once had grazing rights on this part of the garden, now known as Howard’s Field? This airy retreat was built by a local craftsman so you can shelter from the elements while enjoying the newly-planted Heather Landscape.

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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.