Aviary garden
Found a short distance from the Manor is the beautifully restored Aviary, surrounded by intricate raised ribbon bedding. Each year in spring and summer we change the plants and colour scheme.
Those who visit us frequently might be surprised at the appearance of some areas of the Garden. We have been working with a tiny dedicated team of gardeners since lockdown and have not been able to plant our usual summer bedding displays, which need a large team and close working. Since March we have focused on general maintenance and keeping the trees healthy, so the formal gardens are not as manicured as they’d usually be.
There are some encouraging conservation benefits. Wildflowers are flourishing, and many areas are enjoying a less intensive horticultural approach. The formal Parterre and Aviary gardens have been planted with green manures, allowing for deep mulching once the foliage dies back. This is a new way of gardening for us, and long-term, it will do the garden a lot of good.
Intricate bedding
The Aviary garden was restored in 2004 to its colourful Victorian appearance with raised ribbon bedding – plants of a single colour and texture planted in tiers or ‘ribbons’ one above the other.
The bedding scheme is changed twice a year in spring and summer. In spring you’re likely to see beautiful displays of coloured tulips, surrounded by smaller bedding plants. In 2019 look out for hues of bronze and gold.
Aviary Glade
This part of the garden is a beautiful wide open space, perfect for picnics and family fun. We also hold some of our larger events in Aviary Glade, such as Colourscape in May half-term, Summer Fest in July and our annual Chilli Fest in September.
Fun fact
We look after over 100 acres of lawn and grassland - the equivalent to cutting 100 football pitches the size of Wembley Stadium.
Mike Buffin, Gardens Manager
Watch the story of the Aviary
Aviaries were an important part of many Rothschild gardens all over Europe in the 19th century. Waddesdon’s cast-iron structure, erected in 1889, is similar to trelliswork pavilions designed for the gardens of Versailles.
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