Britain's most wooded area; sandy soils predominate and,
in the west, conifers dominate the landscape more than in any
other southern county. In the north, the Bagshot Sands are light
and prone to summer droughts, but the Lower Greensand, which
creates a band of high hills in the south, forms one of the best
soils for trees. Because of the proximity of London, there are
many rich estates and a wealth of old gardens. Only the sticky
clays of the Weald and the high downs lack concentrations of
Champions.
Details
N.B. (PR) Private Residence. (NGS) National
Garden Scheme. (NT) National Trust. (NTS) National Trust Scotland.
(EH) English Heritage. (NR) Nature Reserve. (PU) Public Access
- (check for opening times). |
| *Albury
Park and House, Shere, Albury (PU) The gardens across
the river from the mansion, designed by John Evelyn, are regularly
open in summer; the residents' garden opens for the NGS. The
picturesque Tillingbourne valley provides ideal conditions for
many trees. |
| Bagshot Park, Bagshot (PU) |
| Brookwood Cemetery, Cemetery
Pales, Brookwood (PU) 100ha, notable for its Giant Sequoia
avenues. |
| Burford Lodge, Westhumble, Dorking (NT)
Residents' garden. |
| *Busbridge
Lakes, Godalming (NGS) Check for open days. Fine and
old trees. |
| Coverwood House, Peaslake Road,
Ewhurst Coverwood Lakes, below, opens under the NGS. |
| Crowhurst church. (PU)
One of the largest Yews. |
| Ewell Court Park, Ewell Court Avenue,
West Ewell (PU) Public park. |
| Gatton Hall (The Royal
Alexandra and Albert School), Rocky Lane, Redhill (PU) The historic
gardens are regularly open. |
| *Grayswood
Hill, Highercombe Road, Haslemere (NGS) Check for open
days. One of the most extensive private tree collections in Britain. |
| Hambledon church. (PU)
One of the largest Yews (SE). |
| Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden,
Okewood, Ockley (PU) Regularly open. Part of the Leith
Vale estate, a once-famous garden with many rare plantings. |
| *Hydon
Nurseries, Clock Barn Lane, Hydon Heath, Godalming (PR)
Many rare trees in the nursery garden. |
| *Knaphill
and Slocock Nursery, Barrs Lane, Woking (PR/PU) The
old nursery gardens with many rare trees are open weekdays. |
| *Leith
Hill, Dorking. (NT) (PU open access). |
| *Nonsuch
Park, Ewell (PU) Historic public park. |
| Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands Drive,
Weybridge (PR) Some historic plantings. |
| Old Kiln Museum, Reeds Road, Tilford,
Farnham (PU) Open most days; Rural Life museum with
a young arboretum. |
| *Painshill
Park Landscape Garden, Cobham (PU) Open most days. Some
old and unusual trees. |
| Polecat Copse, Lion Lane, Haslemere (NT)
(PU open access). A sheltered valley woodland with some of England's
tallest trees. |
| Priory Park, Reigate. (PU)
Public park; some very tall tree in the woods on the greensand
ridge S of the lake |
| *Ramster,
Chiddingfold (PU) Open daily through spring; mature
woodland garden. |
| Royal Holloway & Bedford College,
Englefield Green (PU) London University. Extensive arboretum
developed in the 1960s |
| **Surrey
University Campus, Guildford (PU) Open access. Extensive
and ongoing plantings of rare trees. |
| Sutton Place, Sutton Green, Guildford (NGS)
Check for open days. |
| Tandridge church. (PU)
One of the largest Yews. |
| **Windsor
Great Park Surrey's corner of the Park encompasses the
Savill Garden (PU open daily), and the eastern half of the Valley
Gardens (PU open access): woodland gardens developed since the
1930s, with a vast range of rare trees. National Collection of
Magnolia. (See also Berkshire). |
| **Winkworth
Arboretum, Hascombe Road, Godalming (NT) Open daily.
The arboretum was developed by Wilfred Fox in a spectacular hillside
setting from the 1930s and specialises in maples and Sorbus. |
| **Wisley
RHS Garden, Ripley, Byfleet (PU) Open daily (RHS members
only on Sundays). The RHS' flagship garden since 1903: pinetum,
woodland garden and a large young arboretum. |
| Woking Park, Kingfield Road, Woking (PU)
Public park. |
