Furzey Gardens are renowned for rare and unusual plants as well as dazzling displays from spring through to autumn.
Not far from Lyndhurst near the idyllic New Forest village of Minstead is Furzey Gardens with its secret gardens and tearoom (SO43 7GL). Open from 10am until 4pm 7 days per week this attraction tries to keep a manageable number of daily visitors due to its limited parking and to maximise enjoyment of this special place. Booking online gets you a reduction on the suggested donation and there is a two for one off er for Go new Forest members. The suggested donation for an adult if £9 with £5 for over 5s and free access for under-fives. Annual membership is popular too. On arrival you will be given a paper map to enable you to follow the many paths and seek out the over 40 fairy doors. Only assistance dogs are permitted, and toilets are available when the tearooms is open. An unusual request from staff and volunteers is to not scatter glitter for the fairies as it’s not good for the wildlife! A holiday cottage sleeping up to 10 people is also available to book.
This informal woodland garden and seasonal tearoom operates in support of those with learning difficulties and is run as a social enterprise as part of the Minstead trust. Over 200 people with learning difficulties are supported by this charity, encouraging them to gain independence, make new friends and obtain either paid employment or supported volunteering. The tearooms offer light lunches, cakes, snacks, and cream teas and like the plant sales, is one of the employment and volunteering opportunities open to those with learning difficulties. They are responsible for all the growing and garden maintenance under the training of the staff. Plants are sold for between £2.50 to £10 and can be located just outside the tearooms near the entrance.
Furzey Gardens are renowned for rare and unusual plants as well as dazzling displays from spring through to autumn. Some paths are on a steep gradient and so are not all accessible for wheelchairs or buggies and some tracks are narrow, twisting and occasionally slippery, but the main tracks are gravelled. There are rustic play areas and wooden houses with lots for children to explore and seating in various beauty spots. Originally planted in the 1920s by the Dalrymple family, the gardens first opened to the public in 1930 and are particularly known for the camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, Cornus, daphne and vaccinium. After the war the gardens became difficult to maintain and were put up for sale in 1972. A local solicitor, Tim Selwood, was the purchaser and he set up a charitable trust to manage and protect the gardens. In 1986 the Minstead Training programme was established by Martin Lenaerts, a former Cistercian monk with 5 young adults with learning difficulties. The cottage and tea rooms are thatched and the Master Thatcher, Simon Sinkinson, created the 40 fairy doors at that time too. Sadly, he has passed away, but many of the original fair doors till exist. The Head Gardener was Pete White for many years, leading a team of 30 plus 20 volunteers. Pete has recently retired, and the role has been taken over by Andrew Bentley, Estates Manager. A monthly blog can be found on the website – https://www.minsteadtrust.org.uk-furzey.gardens with hints an tips and what to look out for in the gardens as well as an update from one of the volunteers. There is also information about special events such as the 2023 Artists Doors Trail, outdoor theatre and even how to book a wedding at Furzey Gardens! There is a Facebook page and regular updates on other social media.
2022 was Furzey’s Centenary Year and it continues to evolve and develop – biodiversity is now a priority, and the gardens are now peat-free. In July 2023 a BioBlitz event was held, identifying 454 separate species – several local conservation organisations helped the Furzey team and visitors undertake and “intense period of biological surveying”.