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Highdown Gardens

Highdown Gardens were created by Sir Frederick Stern. They are home to rare plants and trees, many grown from seed collected by Wilson, Farrer and Kingdon-Ward. A fully equipped glasshouse enables the propagation of this National Plant Collection. A visitor centre shares stories of the plants and people behind the gardens. An accessible path leads to a sensory garden with a secret sea view.

Owner Info

Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens

About Highdown Gardens

There are 8½ acres of stunning informal gardens on Sussex chalk downland, overlooking the sea, with a unique collection of rare plants and trees. Many were raised from seed brought from China by great collectors like Wilson, Farrer and Kingdon-Ward. The whole garden has been deemed a National Collection of Plants selected by Sir Frederick Stern.

In 2021, as part of a £1million project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a visitor centre was opened, sharing the incredible stories of the plants and people that made Highdown what it is today. With new accessible pathways, greenhouses to propagate and protect rare plants and trees, and a sensory garden with a secret sea view, there’s plenty to discover and enjoy at Highdown Gardens.

The Highdown team is on a journey of sharing the National Plant Collection, opening its doors to activities and a ‘pop-up’ shop selling a selection of plants of interest within the gardens. Check their website for more information.

Highdown is also offering Snowdrop Identification tours on the 13th February and Peony tours on 1st May (neither for NGS), delivered by the gardens Head Gardener and Curator, Alex New, and botanical expert, Simon Hollingworth. Each tour will take you through the gardens’ extensive collections sharing identification techniques, anecdotes and a wealth of information about these winter wonders and late spring delights. Visitors will also get handouts to take away. For more information and booking please see the gardens website.

The gardens are open every single day of the year and remain free to enter.

The team look forward to welcoming you!

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Website:

https://www.highdowngardens.co.uk

Highdown Gardens features

Location details

Highdown Gardens,
Worthing,
West Sussex,
BN12 6FB

Directions to Highdown Gardens
Off the A259 Littlehampton Rd heading E towards Worthing. Turn L up Highdown Rise. Nearest train station: Goring-by-Sea.

Highdown Gardens openings

You can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: Admission by Donation
Child: Free
Opening times 10:00-16:30

You can just turn up and pay on the day.

Admission Adult: Admission by Donation
Child: Free
Opening times 10:00-20:00

Accessibility

  • Accessible top pathway and lift to visitor centre, see garden website accessibility page for full details.
  • Share this garden

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FAQs

Payment is by cash only. Please get in touch with the owners for more details.

Yes, coaches are accepted at Highdown Gardens. Please get in touch with the owners for details.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

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

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

Highdown Gardens is not explicitly a wildlife garden, but you may still find various indigenous flora and fauna.