The Islands of Guernsey benefit from a great growing climate. Spring actually arrives four weeks earlier in Guernsey than on mainland Britain, which allows some unique and very beautiful flora to grow on the island.
Whether you’re a budding horticulturist, gardener, or collector of house plants, there are plenty of green spaces to explore and take inspiration from.
La Seigneurie
In the gardens of La Seigneurie Estate, you will find four diverse acres to enjoy, as well as a cafe and restaurant for refreshments. The award-winning Walled Garden boasts a variety of colours, shapes and scents, with a vast array of flora.
Woodland walks take visitors on a journey past the Monk's Well, the duck pond, and across the newly installed bridge to St Magloire's island. This was recently built and installed by the Seigneur, a former military engineer. A flight of stairs leads guests back to the Archery Lawn, where guests will find a stumpery and a grass walk at the north of the lawn.
For children, the gardens feature a charming maze with a miniature castle at the centre.
At the front of the estate, the Amphitheatre has benches for visitors to relax and enjoy a picnic. The shade and fountains are a serene backdrop for a rest on your journey.
If you're lucky, you may spot some of the local wildlife, including birds and insects, and some species recently spotted for the first time in the British Isles.
Adult admission is £8, child admission is £2.
Le Grand Dixcart
These award-winning gardens sit at the heart of Le Grand Dixcart B&B experience.
Featuring raised beds, an apple orchard, the Cedar Greenhouse, and a unique Permaculture Garden, the gardens are also home to some resident chickens, who produce fresh eggs, and a thriving beehive.
Guided tours are available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and can be reserved through Stocks Hotel reception.
Adult admission is £5, and child admission is £2.50
Grange Court Garden
With tea, cakes and merchandise on sale for charity, guests can enjoy a wander around the finely curated garden as well as live music.
Open Garden: Sunday 29th June, 10am - 4pm.
Adult admission is £5, under 12s enter for free.
Subtropical Gardens, Sausmarez Manor
'An award-winning paradise of the delightful and surprising.'
Recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society and mentioned prominently in ‘1001 Gardens to Visit Before You Die’, these gardens provide interest throughout the seasons.
Guernsey's mild climate allows plants that would typically need protection to grow within the UK to thrive in the outdoors at Sausmarez Manor.
Wandering through the winding paths and jungle-like glades allows you to discover a wide range of plants, including Giant Geraniums, Echiums, Palm trees, Bamboos, Yams (Collocasia & Alocasia), Banana trees, Tree Ferns and Camellias galore.
Open daily (except around Christmas), 10.00am – 5.00pm
Admission charges apply.
Victorian Walled Garden
Situated at Saumarez Park, this garden was once part of the de Saumarez family's private estate, which was acquired by the States of Guernsey following the death of the fourth Lord de Saumarez in 1937. Whilst the park was used widely for public purposes, the Victorian walled garden fell into a state of disuse and disrepair over the years.
Since 2006, the garden has been tended to by volunteers through a community-focused restoration and conservation project. Their work looks to preserve the heritage of Guernsey’s horticultural past, and to educate people of all ages and abilities about the benefits of gardening, both physical and mental.
Though work is ongoing, the garden is already producing well, yielding crops in varieties appropriate to the Victorian era. In both 2008 and 2009, produce from the garden gained several first prizes in the Northern Agricultural & Horticultural Society's annual show held in Saumarez Park.
The garden is open daily from April to September, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 10:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays, as well as the garden shop, La Choppe, where you can purchase seasonal produce.
For guided tours, please contact infovwkg@walledgarden.gg
No entry fee, though donations are appreciated.
Historic Gardens
Four historic gardens can be found at Castle Cornet: Governor's Garden, The Sutler's Garden, Lambert's Garden, and The Master Gunner's Garden.
Governor's Garden: Planted in a formal 18th-century style, this garden was designed to be reminiscent of a tapestry from above. The plants on display were chosen specifically for their ability to be clipped into the desired shape.
The Sutler's Garden: Planted in two parts, the garden includes a 16th-century herb and vegetable garden, with an adjacent pleasure garden, also known as "plaisance".
Lambert's Garden: Named after General Sir John Lambert, a prisoner in the castle, the garden is one he kept during his time there, cultivating medicinal and cooking herbs.
The Master Gunner's Garden: Displayed in a 19th-century domestic pattern, this garden is small and used for growing vegetables, fruits and herbs, with a small enclosed area for small livestock. Placed along the west wall, the garden is often exposed to salty drying winds from the sea.
As well as these formal gardens, visitors can also enjoy the many other areas planted up and around the castle, including flowerbeds, traditional pots, climbing roses, fruit trees and more.
Adult admission is £12, child (7+) admission is £3, under 7s enter for free.
Candie Gardens
Offering views over St Peter Port harbour and across to Herm, Sark and Jethou, Candie Gardens is a rare example of a late 19th-century public flower garden.
Home to the oldest known heated glass-houses in the British Isles, dating back to the late 18th century, the gardens also feature a museum, an art gallery, and a cafe.
Plants from all over the world live in Candie Gardens, and visitors can also see a statue of Victor Hugo, gifted to Guernsey from the French government as thanks for the genoristy shown to Hugo during his exile.
Admission to the gardens is free.
