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| Bateman's Borde Hill Great Dixter High Beeches Gardens Highdown Gardens Leonardslee Gardens Merriments Gardens Nymans Garden Pashley Manor Gardens Sheffield Park Gardens Standen Wakehurst Place |
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This reclusive garden at Highdown was originally bought by Frederick Stern in 1909 when he was 25. Sir Frederick and Lady Stern worked for 50 years producing this garden in a chalk pit, to prove that many plants could thrive on chalk with little soil.
The garden was developed in a period when it was fashionable for
many plant collecting expeditions to China and the
Himalayan regions and Sir Frederick subscribed to such expeditions including
one made in 1914 by Reginald Farrer. Many of the original plants from the early
collections can still be seen in the garden today, particularly plants
collected by Farrer and Ernest Henry Wilson. 
On
the death of Sir Frederick in 1967 Lady Stern followed his wishes and left the
Garden to Worthing Borough Council. To the councils great credit, not only is
the garden very well maintained but is open throughout the year with free
admission. I strongly recommend a visit especially in March or
April.The nine acre garden offers a unique collection of rare plants and trees and the whole garden has been deemed a National Collection. The garden is at its
most colourful in spring and early
summer with a succession of bulbs including Snowdrops, Crocus, Daffodils and
Anemones, followed later by Peonies and Bearded Iris. The views from the
gardens are beautiful and include the sea and the South Downs.Highdown Gardens is located off the A27 Littlehampton Road at Goring By Sea near Worthing, West Sussex.
| *Link to official site for viewing Visitor Information* |