EXPERIENCE SPRING
An adventure awaits you this spring at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens.
Let colour and excitement guide you to uncover all of its beauty and artistry.
A picture-perfect English destination where you, friends and family can enjoy a vibrant springtime experience, the best place to experience all spring has to offer in West Sussex.
March through to June brings an explosion of colour and scent to meet every mood - from the majestic rhododendrons and azaleas to the towering magnolias, Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens offers a spring experience like no other.
At every turn, you will find flowers in so many different colours and shapes - all against the backdrop of new leaves beginning to bud among the trees. It is astonishing to see these colours of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and more reflected in the lakes.
SPRING DISPLAYS
Discover the magnificent Grade I listed woodland gardens bursting to life with brilliant colour this spring.
Explore the beautiful and colourful 240-acre woodland gardens at their vibrant best, and experience the famous Rock Garden in an entirely different light as it becomes the jewel of Leonardslee.
Find some of the best spots to see spring colour in the gardens and make the most of a spring day out.
There is so much to see and do this spring from thousands of bluebells across the lawns, paths overhung with 100-year-old rhododendrons, our seven lakes and of course our resident wallabies, to cafés ready with seasonal delights ready for you to enjoy.
Leonardslee’s gardens are a living example of successful biodiversity. The gardening team at Leonardslee is dedicated to the collection, growth, breeding, and display of nearly two-hundred plants, some that are extremely rare.
Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is home to a variety of rare and endangered plants.
There are over 140 of these plants found growing in the gardens together with flowers that are mostly grown for their ornamental value.
“All of this wonderful colour and bird song creates a paradise that has to be seen to be believed. There is so much to see at this time of year that it will take a good few hours to walk around and take in the beauty of this Heritage Garden.”
LODERI GARDEN
If you’re looking for a truly unique spring experience, then the tranquil setting of the Loderi Garden in full bloom is the perfect place to unwind when visiting Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens.
JOEY WATCH
Our joeys are only a few weeks old but ready to meet you! These little marsupials are in the pouch for approximately two months, where they will stay warm and safe.
BLUEBELL BANK
The wild beauty of Bluebell Bank will take your breath away as an enchanting carpet of blue and purple stretches across the glade. Stirring the imagination, as if you are walking through a fairytale.
SPRING WILDLIFE
Surrounded by a wonderful combination of woodlands, meadows and lakes, Leonardslee is home to an amazing amount of wildlife. During spring, nature is at its best, with a vast variety of birds and animals for visitors to spot.
We’re proud to be home to an extraordinary range of wildlife and welcome you into our midst to experience a range of creatures. From our squirrels and blue tits to fallow deer, peacocks and resident Bennett’s wallabies, there’s always something unusual to see around the corner.
Green woodpeckers are often spotted, while herons enjoy the shallow lakeside water where large carp feed on the surface. Birds regularly sighted in spring include electric blue kingfishers, yellow wagtails and even buzzards, who have taken to nesting in one of the giant Sequoia (Redwoods) from California.
DAFFODILS IN BLOOM
As the days get longer, and the weather starts to get warmer, you’ll find your way to the daffodil fields of Leonardslee. Set high in the Weald, just ten minutes away from the centre of Horsham, Leonardslee offers a truly magnificent patch of country woodland tranquillity.
The magic of thousands of daffodils will take centre stage under the blue skies of Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens; proving to be one of the best places to see early spring daffodils in bloom.
A carpet of golden daffodils covers the slopes of Leonardslee from early March. The magnificent yellow blooms of various types of Narcissus represent the start of colour to come in the gardens, a culmination of all that’s good and hopeful about spring at its most glorious.
BLUEBELL WOODLANDS
Explore the magnificent Grade I Listed gardens and enjoy a bluebell woodlands walk within the 240-acre estate at the famous Bluebell Bank.
The wild beauty of Bluebell Bank will take your breath away as an enchanting carpet of blue and purple stretches across the glade. Stirring the imagination, as if you are walking through a fairytale.
The magic of Bluebell Bank can be experienced from mid-April when thousands of beautiful bluebells can be found carpeting the forest floor beneath the trees.
With the bluebells’ soft scent floating in the air and signs of the spring gardens awakening, this is the perfect time to Live Life in Full Bloom when you become a member.
LIVE LIFE IN FULL BLOOM
For less than £1 per week, per adult in a joint membership.
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