RWCS @ Leonardslee 2010

7 Days : A last look at Leonardslee gardens 2010

The Loder's ownership of the gardens comes to an end from way back in Victorian times [1889]

Leonardslee is located just on the edge of the High Weald of Sussex and benefits from the rich Weald soil combined with an idyllic sheltered valley.Sir Edmund Loder, one of the big Victorian plant collectors, appreciated this and after purchasing the estate from his parents-in-law in 1889, he started developing the gardens as they are today.

Five generations of Loder's have lived at Leonardslee and each generation has had the opportunity to make their mark. Sir Edmund Loder laid out vast collections of plants - predominantly Rhododendrons and Azaleas - as well as conifers and other collections. Sir Giles Loder, continued the tradition by planting award winning camellias.

Robin Loder over the last 20 years has spent time developing the landscape of the gardens, restoring many of the older lakes, as well as developing some of the amazing views that you see today.