Gardens & Grounds

From the orchard to the serene English water garden, a stroll through our verdant grounds is a highlight of any stay. Join us on one of our daily tours, where you’ll be treated to a rare insight into the many unique flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables we grow, and even pick up a few tips and secrets from our expert gardeners.

Fed by natural springs, the gardens were originally dug by the monks who occupied the site in the 16th century. Now, visitors can enjoy strolling around verdant ponds and water features, home to a wide variety of plants and fauna.

Our orchard is one of the most diverse in the country, now containing hundreds of varieties. This ambitious project has grown to encompass some 2,500 apple and pear trees being planted in 2011, alongside a fruit hedge containing varieties of sloes and plums. The garden uses traditional British methods to maintain biodiversity. Guests can enjoy these exquisite ingredients as part of their dining experience, immersing themselves in the finest local produce.

The 100% organic garden is certified by the Soil Association. It supplies 90 types of fresh salads and vegetables to the restaurant throughout the seasons and alongside native crops, is enhanced by vegetable indigenous to South-East Asia, to achieve distinct flavours across many signature dishes.

Cross the oak bridge and find a sense of peace in the Japanese Tea Garden. It perfectly blends Taoist, Buddhist and Shinto traditions with stepping stone paths that lead to a water basin where guests can cleanse their hands in ritual ablution.

The hotel's vast patchwork of herbs includes everything from rosemary to bay, featuring many crops of micro-herbs that are harvested still young and tender to obtain optimum flavour. Both the familiar and the rare can be found across the gardens and in the greenhouses.

At Le Manoir, hundreds of courgettes are grown in covered cloche tunnels for many dishes that include both the courgette and their flowers. The variety grown is Milano di Nero, which produces abundant, large blooms. Here you’ll also find aubergines, peppers and watercress.