Winterbourne Gardens, Edgbaston

Last weekend we visited Winterbourne Gardens in Edgbaston.  Winterbourne is owned by the University of Birmingham and is situated close to the main campus, which isn’t all that far from the centre of Birmingham.  The house is a beautiful  Edwardian Arts and Crafts place and it’s set within seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Inside the house there are some lovely antiques and there are displays about the history of the house and the way of life for its inhabitants.

The house is charming, but for me it’s the gardens that take centre stage.  There are over 6,000 plant species from all around the world. You can wander along the woodland walk, stroll through the hazelnut tunnel and cross the 1930’s Japanese Bridge.

The flowers are beautiful and there are lots of interesting plants to discover as you walk round.  For me one of the highlights is access to the lake that belongs to Edgbaston golf course.  You certainly feel miles away from the city as you sit and muse over the water watching the water birds.

There’s a tropical feel to parts of the garden with the enormous patches Giant rhubarb, or Gunnera manicata, which comes from Brasil. You could easily believe you are somewhere more exotic because they add a jungle feel.

Autumn colour is a strong point with the many varieties of trees within the grounds.  There are some lovely patches of intense and contrasting hues.

In fact, I think autumn is one of the best times to visit this garden as not only is there the lovely foliage, but there are lots of dahlias and other late summer plants that bloom well into autumn.

I love the Nut Walk which brings some shade to the garden, but also hides some views and vistas from the house, leaving you with places to explore as you wander round the grounds.