Delightful daffodils
Magnificent trees, early blossom and carpets of daffodils greeted us on Saturday when we returned to our old stomping ground of Windsor Great Park. We used to live nearby and spent a great deal of time walking the myriad of paths through the parkland. It’s an amazing place covering some 1000 acres, with miles of woodland walks, the lakes of Virginia Water, ornamental gardens and plenty of wildlife.
Views down to Virginia Water
Documents show the parkland goes back as far as the Saxon times when it was used as a hunting forest for the monarchy and nobility. It has the largest collection of ancient oak trees in Western Europe with several over one thousand years old. Over the years various monarchs and their gardeners have landscaped areas of the park and one of my favourite places is the Valley Gardens. These are 250 acres of sweeping views down to Virginia Water, meandering paths through woodland and areas devoted to specialist planting and were created after the Second World War by the deputy ranger Sir Eric Savill and his head gardener Hope Findlay. The acid soil conditions make for some spectacular collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias which can compete with any Cornish garden I have visited.
Windsor Great Park - The Valley Gardens
My favourite season in the Valley Gardens is spring and it was just getting under way when we visited at the weekend. There was some early blossom, the first flowers of the rhododendron collection had emerged and the magical sight of a carpet of Narcissus cyclamineus, which like to grow in slightly boggy conditions, with their swept back petals.
Early flowering rhododendron
Over the next month or so the gardens will become a mass of reds, pinks and purples as the azaleas come into flower but my favourites have to be the magnificent magnolia collection.
Windsor Park - Valley Garden's azaleas
Back in 2005 we visited on a beautiful spring day to see and smell the magnolias in full bloom. It had been one of those perfect spring’s where there were no late frosts to turn the flowers buds to mush and the petals brown.
Magnificent magnolias
Although the Valley Gardens are at their height in spring, there is plenty to see throughout the rest of the year. They are a great place for a picnic in the summer where you can sit amongst the cooling blues and whites of the hydrangeas and marvel at the enormous gunnera. As summer moves into autumn Sorbus produce vibrant berries and the leaves of maples, birches and liquidambars set the gardens alight.
All through the year the Great Park is a wonderful place to see wildlife, including deer and a resident parakeet flock. It’s certainly one of the best places to see all 3 types of woodpecker and you should be able to spot a red kite or two.
The best thing about all of this is it’s free. There is a part of the park, the Savill Garden, a self contained and specially designed ornamental garden that charges an admission fee and has visitor facilities such as a shop and restaurant but the Valley Gardens and the rest of the park cost nothing and I think that’s pretty great.
For more information go to Windsor Great Park’s website.
wellywoman 
We went to Savill Gardens in Windsor Great park last weekend, with scooters. It was fab. I must admit we were more interested in the scooting opportunities and the ice cream than the flora & fauna … but I did think how gorgeous it’s going to be in the height of summer when everything is in bloom.
This is lovely! I enjoy all your posts, but have particularly enjoyed the garden and park visits.
Love Narcissus cyclamineus, tried them once in my bog garden, but never saw them again, was it too wet do you think? Windsor Great Park looks a wonderful place, went to the Savill Garden quite some time ago, but must try WGP next time we are in London, thanks for sharing your visit with us.
We used to live near Windsor before we moved to Italy so your post brought back lots of happy memories of walks there. The photosa didn’t download for me, although reading the other comments they must have done for others. Christina
I too used to live near Windsor when I grew up, and I remember going to the Savill Gardens several times with my family – I remember the alpine meadows especially.
Also my mother recounting how she went with a friend who always embarrassed her by taking cuttings there and saying ‘Just hold this for a moment..’ so my mother risked getting caught red-handed while she took another!
The valley gardens are beautiful in azalea time too.
How wonderful to have lived near this beautiful park. Beautiful Spring colour already. Azaleas are amazing!
Great post! Never been to Windsor park (or seen 3 types of Woodpecker!). The view down to the lake looks stunning and have now put Narcissus cyclamineus on my bulb ordering list for later in the year.Many thanks. Naomi
Looks a great place for a saunter WW. Have only been to Windsor once as a child and then to the castle. My sister lives in Maidenhead ~ will have to persuade her to take me for an outing next time I’m down there.
It looks a wonderful place for a stroll. There are some fabulous places to visit which are free, we’re very lucky really.
It’s a lovely place and not far from me so I go there a couple of times a year, usually during spring and autumn. xx
I grew up nearby and used to go to the park throughout the year. I think my first birdwatching was watching the great crested grebes on the lake.
Now I live a long way away, so thanks for reminding me of the place. Must go back soon.