Rising from a grassy mound in the morning mist, Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire has an enchanted appearance. Topped by romantic turrets and crenelations, it’s surrounded by drifts of around a million wild daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus). A collection of 130 magnolia trees is unfurling across the gardens, with shapely flowers in shades of white, pink and pale yellow. Cherry blossom is appearing, reflected in the glassy surface of an ornamental lake, and there are painterly splashes of scarlet and cerise from camellias and rhododendrons, which thrive in the slightly acidic soil.
“It’s a romantic, dreamy garden, and even though there are many different areas, it has a sense of flow,” says head gardener Kate Hurst. “Despite the castle on the mound, it doesn’t feel imposing. There’s a relaxed feeling, a sense…
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Garden News (Digital) - 1 Issue, 22 March 2025