The Waddesdon Manor garden, in partnership with Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style château built towards the end of the 19th century by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, that was originally intended to showcase a selection of art and to entertain fashionable figures. It is now open to the public and welcomes thousands of visitors each year who come to appreciate the exceptional architecture, art collections and gardens.
7 June 2024
The château's gardens are just as magnificent as the house, featuring notable flower displays, and walking routes – all designed to create something beautiful for the Baron’s guests to see at every turn. At the time, its gardens marked the dawn of a new taste for brighter and more striking trees and shrubbery.
Although the gardens are made up of a beautiful parterre, Rose Garden, Water Garden and Aviary Garden, it is the Aviary Garden which has inspired The Waddesdon Manor garden in the Village. Aviaries were an important part of many Rothschild gardens all over Europe in the 1800s, often featuring unique and rare birds and other animals. This represented an air of wealth and power.
To this day, the original Aviary Garden is home to unique bird species, a third of which are at risk of extinction to some degree. The Manor’s Aviary plays a significant part in conserving and breeding these endangered species. As for its visual appearance, every spring and summer, the raised bedding you see above (featuring yellow and purple flowers) is carefully replanted with a new colour scheme.
Our garden is filled with plants taking their inspiration from this garden – ranging from big and bold bamboo, chusan palms and ball-shaped topiary to the more delicate climbing honeysuckle. Plus, if you listen carefully, you may just hear the sound of the beautiful Palawan Peacock Pheasants and Rothchild’s Mynahs.
To discover more about Waddesdon Manor and its surrounding gardens, visit the Waddesdon Manor website.
