{"id":4166,"date":"2026-08-05T15:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pridemagazines.co.uk\/rutland-and-stamford\/?p=4166"},"modified":"2026-08-05T15:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:00:41","slug":"vote-for-burghley-house-historic-houses-garden-of-the-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pridemagazines.co.uk\/rutland-and-stamford\/highlights\/vote-for-burghley-house-historic-houses-garden-of-the-year-2026\/08-2026","title":{"rendered":"Vote for Burghley House: Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The gardens of Burghley House are undoubtedly spectacular, and if you agree, now\u2019s the time to cast your vote, as Stamford\u2019s best-loved landmark seeks to secure the title of Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c32 years of being a professional gardener,\u201d says Joe Whitehead. He returned to Burghley House in 2017, having previously tended the grounds from 1997 to 2002 before leaving to pursue an RHS Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe and his team are now reaping the rewards of their enthusiasm and the careful ongoing development of the gardens, with the work of previous years still providing obvious benefits. Still, there is plenty to do, both in terms of the gardens\u2019 future development and the day-to-day upkeep required to maintain them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dedication of the team is one of the reasons Burghley House is one of just six finalists in the Historic Houses Garden of the Year competition. Having made the shortlist, the public is now being invited to vote for their favourite via the association\u2019s website (www.historichouses.org), recognising the work and creativity of the team who care for the gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf a gardener\u2019s not busy in May, then there\u2019s something wrong,\u201d he says. \u201cThis year has been one of the best springs I can remember for a long time,\u201d he adds. After a wet winter, the gardens have responded with vigour. \u201cEverything just woke up not stressed, not dry, full of moisture in the ground, and with quite a lot of warmth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Sculpture Gardens of Burghley House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two gardens, one destination<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visitors can explore two distinct yet complementary spaces. The Sculpture Garden integrates contemporary art within sweeping borders, wildflower planting and long views across Capability Brown\u2019s great lake. The Garden of Surprises, inspired by Elizabethan ideas and historic records, offers a theatrical sequence of enclosed spaces animated by water, playful features and bold, architectural planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visitors can engage with the gardens in many ways, whether through horticulture, art, planting, history, seasonal change or simple enjoyment of being outdoors, making Burghley genuinely a garden for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New for 2026, interpretation boards add insight into the planting and sculpture, and improved pathways and wayfinding enhance accessibility. Joe leads a small team of seven gardeners, supported by around 25 volunteers. He insists the gardens are a collective achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything you see comes from the collective mind of the gardens team,\u201d he says. \u201cFrom new planting schemes to new paths and ongoing work to support biodiversity, it\u2019s a shared effort across staff and volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A garden built in layers<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Vote
Vote for the grounds of Burghley House in the Historic Houses Garden of the Year competition, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The result is a garden that feels richer, fuller and more confident than ever. Over the past seven or eight years, Joe and his team have planted more than 100,000 plants, many of which are now maturing into the layered displays he always imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlanting\u2019s all about layers,\u201d he says. \u201cYou can put five, six, seven or eight different layers into a border, so one thing always comes through; a flower grows through foliage, the flower offsets the foliage, the foliage offsets the flower\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re typically working three to five years ahead,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen we plan a space, we\u2019re always considering how it will develop over that time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three generations of gardeners<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joe\u2019s love of gardening runs deep. He is the third generation of gardeners in his family, following both his great-grandfather and grandfather into the profession. As a child, he spent time on the Somerset estate where his grandfather was Head Gardener, wandering through walled gardens, carnation houses and greenhouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis influence was huge,\u201d he says. \u201cI think, one way or another, I was destined to be a gardener.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burghley, though, is on another scale. The gardens cover more than 46 acres, sitting within Capability Brown\u2019s celebrated landscape and beside the 26-acre lake he designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Sculpture Garden alone, Joe estimates there are now more than 1,000 varieties of plants, from woodland perennials to tropical beds featuring bananas, gingers, salvias and the Congo parrot plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want people to experience something different and unexpected as they move through the garden,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a real sense of discovery from one area to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A riot of colour<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In summer, Burghley is a riot of colour. The wildflower meadows begin to glow, the herbaceous borders erupt, and around 1,000 David Austin roses produce their first flush in the South Gardens, which are open for one week this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen they all peak, it\u2019s a lovely space, very scented and beautiful,\u201d Joe says. Among his favourites are Gertrude Jekyll and Queen of Sweden, the latter prized for floristry in the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A living environment, not a finished picture<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joe believes what makes Burghley distinctive is its long history of thoughtful garden-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom its beginnings under William Cecil to the extraordinary vision of Capability Brown, whose influence still defines the landform and views today, Burghley has never stood still,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re caring for a garden where stewardship is both a privilege and a responsibility. There\u2019s a strong sense of heritage, but also willingness to adapt and refine the gardens over time. They\u2019re not a finished picture, but a living environment shaped by plants, people and nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting and voting<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Burghley Gardens are open to visitors from February to November. Admission booked online in advance costs \u00a311 per adult and \u00a38.50 per child. For further information, visit burghley.co.uk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vote for Burghley House to be named Garden of the Year at www.historichouses.org\/garden-of-the-year-2026\/.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQ<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How can I vote for Burghley House as Garden of the Year 2026?<\/strong> You can vote for Burghley House in the Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2026 competition at www.historichouses.org\/garden-of-the-year-2026\/. Burghley is one of just six finalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How big are the gardens at Burghley House?<\/strong> The gardens cover more than 46 acres, sitting within Capability Brown\u2019s celebrated landscape and beside the 26-acre lake he designed, and include the Sculpture Garden and the Garden of Surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When can I visit Burghley Gardens?<\/strong> Burghley Gardens are open to visitors from February to November. Admission booked online in advance costs \u00a311 per adult and \u00a38.50 per child \u2014 see burghley.co.uk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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