Garden Visits – Howick gardens, home of Earl Grey

Howick gardens and arboretum surround Howick Hall, the home of Earl Grey tea. This tea was specially blended for the 2nd earl in the early nineteenth century by a Chinese mandarin. The delicate bergamot scent was used to balance the taste of lime in the water at Howick. Unfortunately the Grey family didn’t register the ‘earl grey tea’ as a trademark, so when Lady Grey was asked if her popular tea could be sold to others, the Grey family made no money from the royalties.

Howick gardens were primarily created by the 5th earl Grey, his wife and daughter in the twentieth century. They were inspired by the naturalistic style of William Robinson, who, among other garden design elements is famous for his ‘wilderness garden’.

In July, August and September the bog garden is full of ligularias, astilbes, orange tiger lilies and salvias. The vast majority of these herbaceous perennials have been grown from seed collected on seed and plant collecting expeditions.

Earlier in the year, Silverwood, full of species rhododendrons, is a woodland garden for which Howick is justly well known.

Howick Gardens, Aboretum and the Red Squirrel

The Howick gardens have a wonderful arboretum, planted geographically, so you can wander from one continent to another. Virtually all the trees have been grown from seed, collected in the wild since 1985. The Howick arboretum holds one of the largest UK collections of wild origin plants and it is a treat to see young specimens. Many of our British arboreta were started in the nineteenth century, and the difference in growth form and habit between a young and a mature tree makes a fascinating comparison. With 11,000 trees and shrubs to admire and study, give yourself plenty of time.

Howick gardens and arboretum are also home to the British native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Red Squirrels Northern England is a conservation partnership aiming to study and increase the population of red squirrels; who are at risk from habitat erosion and also from the larger grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), a North American native that was introduced in the 1870s. We saw a red squirrel on our visit, but at a distance.

The borders near the house and tea rooms include Bergamot (Monarda didyma) known as bee balm. This flower has a similar scent to the bergamot orange which is the source of the oil that flavours earl grey tea. Hemerocallis (day lilies) and giant catmint (Nepeta) also fill the largely herbaceous borders.

After walking round the world in the arboretum, you’ve earned your restorative tea and cake in the Earl Grey tea house. A pleasant end to Howick Gardens and Arboretum.