National Trust Garden
North Yorkshire

A heritage Iris Garden at Nunnington Hall for the National Trust designed to be sympathetic to the history of the site whilst also being sustainable, biodiverse and improvising accessibility for modern visitors.

The original Iris Garden was thought to have been laid out in the 1920’s by Mrs Fife, the former owner. Since that time it has received a revival by the National Trust in 1989 but in recent years had become tired and in need of some attention.

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Celebrating the Iris genus, the garden contains a wide variety of the species. It will showcase the versatility and year round interest that Iris can offer. The Iris have been planted in mixed borders, combined with a range of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs to support year round interest and structure as well as wildlife habitats.

A central wildlife pond provides an opportunity to include marginal Iris, in combination with some native aquatics. Original Yorkstone paving flags from the garden were used to make a stone capped edge to the pond and some were also repurposed to form part of the retaining wall to the existing cutting garden.

Accessibility is at the heart of the garden with a network of self-binding gravel pathways connecting with the step free access into the garden. Wooden benches in the garden have been designed with space beside them for a wheelchair or buggy and will have no arm on that side for ease of access.

A changing repertoire of sculpture will be displayed in the garden, the first exhibits shown in the garden are by Ruth Moilliet.

The Iris Garden is a tranquil space designed to celebrate the beauty of these incredible plants whilst encouraging wildlife and increasing biodiversity. It is hoped that visitors can sit, to enjoy the play of light on water, scented plants, light filtering through the shrubs and trees and never far from an iris to admire at any time of the year.