Nunnington Hall National Trust
Complete redesign of the historic Iris garden at Nunnington Hall, National Trust property, Yorkshire.
© Kristina Clode Garden Design (Image 1-3)
© National Trust (Image 4-6)
Watch the video to experience the stunning opening of the Iris Garden.
A Heritage Iris Garden at Nunnington Hall, designed for the National Trust, honouring the history of the site while embracing sustainability, biodiversity, and accessibility for modern visitors.
Celebrating the rich diversity of the Iris genus, the garden showcases a wide variety of species, highlighting the plant’s versatility and year-round appeal. Irises are woven through mixed borders alongside carefully selected trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs — providing structure, seasonal interest, and valuable habitats for wildlife.
At the heart of the garden lies a central wildlife pond, planted with marginal irises and native aquatic species. Reclaimed Yorkstone paving from the original garden has been repurposed to edge the pond with a stone-capped finish and to form part of the retaining wall of the existing cutting garden — blending heritage materials with thoughtful design.
Accessibility is integral to the garden’s layout. A network of self-binding gravel paths offers smooth, step-free access throughout. Custom-designed wooden benches include adjacent space for a wheelchair or buggy, with one arm removed to ensure easy side access.
A changing repertoire of sculpture will be displayed in the garden, the first exhibits shown in the garden are by Ruth Moilliet.