West Dean Gardens

13/08/2026

Bring home a taste of West Dean 🐝

Our estate honey is now available to purchase from the Gardens Gatehouse.

Produced by bees that forage across the rolling farmland, wildflower meadows, ancient woodlands and gardens of West Dean, each jar captures the changing flavours of the Sussex countryside.

From spring blossom to summer wildflowers and flowering hedgerows, the bees gather nectar from across the estate's diverse landscape, creating a honey that reflects the character of this special place 💛

07/08/2026

From seed to stunning. 🌻💐
Standing amongst the vibrant annual cut flower beds in the Walled Garden, our gardeners are holding armfuls of freshly cut blooms gathered from across the gardens. The annuals surrounding them have all been grown from seed and carefully nurtured throughout the season, creating a spectacular display of colour and providing an abundance of flowers.
Pictured from left to right: Bex, Lily, Sophie and Josh.
Which flower catches your eye first? Let us know in the comments! 🌼🌸

04/08/2026

Our luffa display is thriving in one of the Victorian glasshouses within the Walled Garden at West Dean Gardens. 🌿💛 Known for producing natural sponges once dried, luffas are fascinating climbing plants with beautiful yellow flowers and impressive hanging fruits. Be sure to look up when you visit!
📷 Trevor Sims

01/08/2026

Meet Josh, our new Senior Production Gardener! 🌱

This side of the gardens is growing, and we’re excited about what the future holds. From expanding our produce for the restaurant to increasing the range of plants we grow on site for sale, there’s plenty to look forward to.

Watch this space as we continue to grow! 🌿

31/07/2026

The dahlias are beginning to steal the show in the Walled Garden, bringing a vibrant display of colour that’s only going to get better in the weeks ahead. 🌸✨

27/07/2026

Sweetcorn season is well underway in the Kitchen Garden at West Dean Gardens 🌽 The cobs are coming along beautifully, with their vibrant silks a sure sign that harvest time is getting closer. We can’t wait to enjoy the taste of homegrown summer produce.
📷Trevor Sims

24/07/2026

23/07/2026

Discover a summer of imagination and adventure ☀️

Our family-friendly Garden Explorer Trail is back for the summer holidays! Follow the trail through beautiful gardens and hidden corners as you spot the buildings and landmarks that make West Dean so special.

Perfect for children of all ages, it's a chance to explore together at your own pace, taking in colourful borders, winding pathways, towering trees and peaceful ponds along the way.

After your adventure, visit the Plant Nursery, browse the Gardens Gatehouse Shop, or relax with delicious food and refreshments from the Gardens Kitchen.

🌿25 July - 31 August
🌿Children and Gardens Members go free

📍West Dean Gardens, West Sussex
https://www.westdean.ac.uk/gardens/events/summer-holiday-activities

22/07/2026

Apple thinning is well underway in the orchard! 🍎

With the meadows now mown and the cuttings taken away to compost, our wonderful team of volunteers can safely access every tree. Each one is carefully hand-thinned, reducing every cluster to a single apple and leaving around a fist’s width between each fruit.

This important summer task helps reduce the weight on branches, preventing damage, encourages more consistent cropping from year to year, and allows the remaining apples to develop into larger, healthier, better-quality fruit.

A huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers for their care and hard work. 🌿

21/07/2026

The dry meadow is buzzing with bees, fluttering with butterflies, and bursting with summer colour. 🌿🦋🐝