One of the largest and most spectacular woodland gardens in England
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is one of the largest and most spectacular woodland gardens in England. Laid out from 1889 by Sir Edmund Loder in a deep valley in the Sussex High Weald, the garden descends through ancient oak woodland to a chain of six interconnected lakes, the whole amphitheatre planted with one of the finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in the country.
At its peak in late April and May, the colour is extraordinary: flame azaleas against the new green of oak leaves, the reflections of giant rhododendrons in the mirror-still lakes, the massed scent on still days drawing visitors deeper into the valley. Loder's hybrid rhododendrons — named Loderi in his honour — are considered among the finest in cultivation, and the best specimens are over a century old.
After years of closure, Leonardslee has been magnificently restored and extended. The walled kitchen garden, the rock garden and the glass houses have all been revived, and new planting has added horticultural depth without disturbing the essential drama of the original landscape. We visit in May when the garden is at its theatrical best.