...

Grounds & Gardens

Located behind Marwell Hall and next to the back lawn, our Formal Garden includes a representation of three garden styles of the 16th and 17th century

Stroll around our knot, parterre and kitchen gardens and become acquainted with both the plants and their uses.

 

Knot Garden

This type of garden was very popular in the Tudor period. Our knot garden uses small box hedging to frame the perimeter, with box and lavender crossing at strategic locations within this frame. Roses and pinks serve as fill in plants within the design .The term knot derives from the over and under of threads used in an English knot, or strapwork, needlework pattern. The hedge height rises at hedge junctions to indicate the crossing of threads.

Watch a video of one of Marwells Gardens on YouTube.

 

Parterre Garden

By the 17th century, knot gardens were considered dated and other garden styles such as the parterre became fashionable. This French name means on the ground. Parterres might include a group of flower beds laid out in a formal pattern, often surrounded by hedging, and occasionally having a central feature. These gardens became fashionable in the 1600s and had a revival in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Colourful roses and lilies feature in our garden.

 

Kitchen Garden

This garden would have been used for cultivating herbs, fruit and vegetables for the Hall’s kitchen. Our garden has been designed with a formal pattern and is separated from the rest of the ornamental gardens, as was often the case. Herbs were popular in the 16th century for a variety of uses. Many such as marjoram and lemon balm were used for culinary, medicinal and occasionally aromatic purposes. Vegetables such as carrots became popular in the 17th century and the plants we are growing here today may have been typical of gardens then.

Did you know?

Marwell is a charity

Support your favourite animals. From our work with snow leopards, to Critically Endangered addax in Tunisia, you can help us restore habitats and species across the world.

DONATE NOW
What's nearby?
Outdoor picnic areas
Adventure playgrounds
Ice creams

Great day but as a Childminder cannot afford to come back again I’d love to ha…

Donna – 1 month ago

10/10. Fantastic the animals have such a lot of space, well done!

Tony – 1 month ago

Lovely afternoon

Clare – 1 month ago

Had a lovely time at Marwell all the animals look well looked after and happy Re…

Trusted customer – 1 month ago

Very spacious zoo, took 4 hours to walk around, it was nice to see they were exp…

Trusted customer – 1 month ago

Fantastic visit

Diane – 1 month ago

Perfect Family Adventure

Best family day out you could imagine. Great layout, fabulous staff, animals and…

Dan – 1 month ago

Seeing amazing animals were really fantastic and incredible.

Fatma – 1 month ago

It is always a fabulous day and different every time we go..☺️

Always recommend going to Marwell amazing day for the little ones.

Trusted customer – 1 month ago

Good fun for children especially the Penguins!

Lovely seeing the Giraffe close up in their “house’

Robert – 1 month ago

Great over 60s days out. Wheelchairs need brakes due to hills

great days out helpfull staff Wendy the litter picker was a real informer and we…

robert amy – 1 month ago

Another great day at Marwell. Walk around park then lunch in Cafe Graaz

Cold and sunny day. Saw the two tigers who were so close to the fence. Sloth in…

Wendy – 1 month ago

Lovely as always. They are constantly improving enclosures.

Barry – 1 month ago

Enjoyed a great time seeing the animals

Such an amazing zoological zoo where all the animals are well cared for. Making …

Suzanne – 1 month ago

First visit for my friend who was very impressed.

Excellent zoo with good enclosures and walkways.

Cliff – 1 month ago

Small but nice zoo

A nice range of animals. Nice grounds, very clean and tidy. Graze Cafe is nice a…

Trusted customer – 1 month ago

Great zoo the entire family love ot

Clare – 1 month ago

Well worth the money

A great day out seeing a wide variety of animals. The tigers put on a great disp…

David – 1 month ago