Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

About Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Abbotsbury SubTropical gardens lie nestled in a sheltered woodland valley just quarter of a mile from the famous Chesil Beach. It is here that the maritime climate and shelter provides a unique microclimate that creates an almost frost-free environment, which helps plants from all over the world to survive growing outside. Many exotic Palm tree species together with Bananas, Bamboos, grasses and colourful half-hardy perennials help create an almost Mediterranean feel to the garden yet it still has a massive spring collection of Magnolias, Camellias, Rhododendrons and Spring Bulbs. Historically the Fox-Strangway family have owned the estate and gardens since the walled gardens were built in 1765. Future generations of the family have collected plants and the valley garden expanded. More recently the gardens have had a renaissance since storm damage in the 1990s that left the garden in disarray. It has been redeveloped with new planting schemes and plant collections to rival any private gardens in the UK, and is a Royal Horticulture Society partner garden. The gardens expanded again in 2007 where there is now a hillside walk that leads to magnificent views of the Jurassic Coast. This is flanked by probably the largest Magnolia avenue in the country.