Slape Manor

River valley garden in a process of transformation. Spacious lawns, wildflower meadows, and primula fringed streams leading down to a lake. Walk over the stream with magnificent hostas, gunneras and horizontal Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' around the lake. Admire the mature wellingtonias, ancient wisterias, rhododendrons and planting around the house. Kitchen garden renovation underway.

About
Location
Openings
Accessibility

Owner Info

Paul Mulholland & Tarsha Finney
[email protected]
07534 676148

About Slape Manor

Slape Manor was taken over by the current owners in late 2020 and is now in a process of transformation overseen by Landscape Designers Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt in collaboration with Head Gardener Hannah Gardner and the Slape Manor garden team with owner Tarsha Finney. Explored as part of their Best in Show winning Rewilding Britain Garden at The Chelsea Flower Show 2022, Slape Manor has been an influential project in the development of Urquhart and Hunt’s understanding of the relationship between garden design, the practice of gardening through time, complex ecologies and biodiversity at a landscape scale.

Slape Manor is a river valley garden. It sits between a SSI designated ancient alderwood forest and the River Brit. It features a 19th century woodland, an early 20th century Italianate sunken garden, and a revived walled kitchen garden. New work for 2023/24 includes complex woodland planting, over 7 hectares of local West Dorset provenance wildflower meadows, a controlled beaver release, lakes, river front, new orchards and a kitchen garden under restoration.

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Slape Manor features

Location details

Slape Manor,
Bridport,
Dorset,
DT6 5LH

Directions to Slape Manor
Turn W off A3066 to Netherbury. House ½m S of Netherbury on back rd to Bridport signed Waytown.

Slape Manor openings

24 Apr 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

11 May 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

29 May 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

06 Jul 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

25 Sep 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

05 Oct 2025 Pre-booking available

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake. Refreshments in aid of West Dorset Wilding and WFGA.

Admission Adult: £15.00
Child: Free

Opening times 13:00-17:00

Book

Visit by Arrangement

from February to 1 December

This garden opens for By Arrangement visits from February to 1 December for groups of between 8 and 20.

Please contact the garden owner to discuss your requirements and arrange a date for a group or bespoke visit.

Refreshments Tea, coffee & cake.

Admission Adult: Free
Child: Free

See booking information

Accessibility

Mostly flat with some sloping paths and steps. Ground is often wet and boggy.

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FAQs

Are payment cards accepted at Slape Manor?

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Are coaches allowed at Slape Manor?

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

Is Slape Manor a dog friendly garden?

Yes, dogs are welcome at Slape Manor. 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.

Are there plants available for sale?

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

Is there wheelchair access at Slape Manor?

Yes, one or more routes at Slape Manor are accessible to wheelchair users.

Is this a wildlife garden?

Yes. Slape Manor 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.