Skip to content
Menu

Clare Gardens

A group of three adjacent gardens in Clare offering a wide variety of garden styles from a sculpture park with follies, ponds, an orchard and jungle planting leading down to the River Stour, to a former prize winning cottage garden with manicured lawns and a bridge over the Stour and finally a more formal garden with beds, lawns, a vegetable and fruit garden, topiary and a tudor style physic garden. All three gardens are in an historic setting and feature beautiful mature trees.

Owner Info

Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens
Clare Gardens

About Clare Gardens

Stour House is a 2 acre mixed habitat garden belonging to a Grade II* listed thatched house, bounded on 3 sides by flint walls, with the River Stour forming the southern boundary. Within the garden is a variety of zones, ranging from dry gravel gardens, through lawns to a jungle garden, bog gardens and ponds. Trees feature largely throughout the garden and we also have a small orchard. Sculptures, follies and even a stone circle add to the sense of discovery.
We are fortunate to have many different habitats in the garden that support a wide range of wildlife. The river is full of fish, including pike, bream, roach and perch and we have been lucky enough to see a pair of otters. The ponds and wet areas allow us to grow lots of marginal plants and ferns thrive here. We have seen frogs, toads and newts in the wet areas, as well as bats hunting for insects by the river at night, roosting in our attic by day.
The bird life is very varied and our bird boxes have been very successful with Barn Owl chicks appearing for the first time this year. Other nocturnal visitors include foxes, muntjac and most of the neighbours cats. Large areas of the garden have been left untouched to encourage insects and other pollinators, damsel and dragonflies abound and we have created habitats for stag beetles.
Riverside House is also bounded by the Stour. There are many fine trees and bushes. The garden has a peaceful atmosphere.
Cliftons is a Grade 1 listed house on the other side of the road from Stour House and Riverside House so not bounded by the Stour and much dryer as a result. the 1.5 acre site is divided into very different areas and is more formal than the other two gardens with lawns leading down to a terrace, flower beds, mature trees and many seating areas. We are trying to move to perennials in the beds offering colour or interest throughout the year with seasonal colour in pots. The high spot is the Tudor Physic Garden with beds of hundreds of medicinal plants. A new addition is plants used in dyeing wool – a nod to the industry that made Clare wealthy in medieval times.
.

Clare Gardens features

Location details

Clare Gardens,
Clare,
Suffolk,
CO10 8NP

Directions to Clare Gardens
Follow road signs.

Clare Gardens openings

You can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas at Cliftons. Cake and scones also available.
Admission Adult: £10.00
Child: Free
Opening times 11:30-16:30

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair access at Cliftons but not at Stour House or Riverside House.
  • Share this garden

Other Gardens of Potential Interest

The Elms image
The Elms

Gardens are set around a beautiful moated Queen Anne house. Extensive spring bulbs, herbaceous borders, formal rose garden, ponds, arboretum and...

Read more
Rookery Farm image
Rookery Farm

There is always plenty to see in this spectacular plantsman's garden with two ponds - one more formal than the other, rockery, dry garden, white...

Read more
Stour House image
Stour House

Our garden is bounded on three sides by flint walls, with the River Stour forming the southern boundary. Within the garden we have a variety of...

Read more
Cliftons image
Cliftons

We have a 1½ acre site within the setting of a Grade I listed house comprising a Tudor style physic garden with over 200 species of plants used for...

Read more
Manor House Farm image
Manor House Farm

Surrounding a Grade II listed 1655 house with a distinctive Dutch Gable, the garden at Manor Farm is being redeveloped by its landscape designer...

Read more
18 Raven Way image
18 Raven Way

A ¼ acre garden, renovated and restyled five years ago. Large herbaceous beds, mature trees, ferns, roses, hostas, pond, plus greenhouse and small...

Read more
Wolsey Farmhouse image
Wolsey Farmhouse

A large country garden with recently created wildflower meadow and prairie garden. Discover an established walled garden with shrub borders and rose...

Read more
St Francis Cottage image
St Francis Cottage

The C17 thatched cottage is surrounded by a variety of garden 'rooms', which inc a natural pond with marginal planting, wildflower meadow with yellow...

Read more

Don’t miss out

Sign up to our weekly newsletter to hear more about the gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme, events and activities throughout the year

Sign up to our newsletter

FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at Clare Gardens at this time.

Yes, dogs are welcome at Clare Gardens. Please keep the dogs on fixed short leads in the garden and keep in mind that you are responsible for controlling the dog’s behaviour. For any specific rules please ask the owners.

Yes, there are various plants offerred for sale at Clare Gardens, please enquire with the owners for more details.

Yes, one or more routes at Clare Gardens are accessible to wheelchair users.

Yes. Clare Gardens seeks to offer a sustainable refuge for nearby fauna and wildlife. These sanctuaries host diverse habitats supporting indigenous flora and fauna and nurturing local biodiversity.