Sheffield Park and Garden undergoes major climate adaptation refresh
A new Garden for the Future has opened at Sheffield Park and Garden in East Sussex, marking the Grade-I listed landscapes first ‘major’ land-based regeneration in over 70 years.
The new garden, designed by landscape architect and garden designer, Joe Perkins, will be used to observe and track how new and old species respond together in their new environment.
One of the Garden for the Future’s flat dry exotic beds. Key plants include Maytenus boaria (foliage just visible, far left), Chamaerops humilis (centre), Aloe striatula (centre-right) and Tulbaghia violacea. © National Trust Images / James Dobson
“It’s a kick starter for how we can adapt historical gardens to be able to cope with the challenges we’re going to face in the future climatically”, says Perkins.
With the intention to influence future design adaptations in the surrounding 120-acre garden, which has resided in the National Trust’s care since 1954.
At an exclusive tour of the new climate mitigation garden, Perkins notes that the design, while respectful of the site’s heritage, is progressive in nature, with a strong theme of sustainability and climate resilience.
Head gardener Jodie Hilton says the garden, which is full permeable, “provides an opportunity to engage visitors with a different style of planting, adapted to a different climate and planting environment, than they might see in the rest of the landscape at Sheffield Park, while taking inspiration from the garden surrounding it.”
Adding that she hopes visitors will “take a moment to pause and reflect in nature, in a corner of the landscape that was often overlooked until now.”
The garden is designed into distinct zones – linked by meandering paths made from reclaimed wood – adorned with distinguishing planting schemes.
“A core principle of the planting scheme is resilience”, says Perkins.
“Early on, we identified the need for plants which can tolerate both extended periods of drought, and potentially heat, as well as cold winter temperatures. We’ve created different planting habitats which will allow the team to explore plants from around the world that could be better adapted to future conditions.”
The Trust has consulted with internal and external sources, from specialists, staff, volunteers, visitors, supporters, and community partners to develop the garden, which broke ground back in January 2024.
The Landscape build for Garden for the Future was delivered by The Landscaping Consultants, with plants supplied by Kelways nursery in Somerset.