Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

About Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

The gardens were started in 1953 by Sir Harold Hillier, a plantsman from the Winchester nursery family, around his home at Jermyn's House near Ampfield. Over the following decades he gathered trees and shrubs from correspondents and travels across the world, aiming to build as complete a collection of hardy woody plants as possible.

In 1977 he placed the gardens in the sole trusteeship of Hampshire County Council, and they are now run as a charity focused on horticulture, conservation, education and recreation. They were added to the national Register of Parks and Gardens in 1997 and hold 14 National Plant Collections and hundreds of champion trees.

What to see

• Centenary Border: a long double border of shrubs and perennials, around 250 metres from end to end.
• Winter Garden: more than four acres planted for coloured stems, bark, scent and winter flowers.
• Acer Valley: Japanese and other maples beneath mature oaks, especially good in October.
• Bog Garden and pond: bamboos and bold perennials including Gunnera.
• Champion trees: specimens such as the Dawn Redwood and a Dawyck Purple beech, plus magnolias and rhododendron woodland in spring.

Planning your visit

The gardens are on Jermyns Lane, about two miles north-east of Romsey. Parking is free, with two EV charging points; bus 66 between Winchester and Romsey serves the area, and Romsey station is two miles away. The Courtyard Café and the Garden Restaurant and Tea Rooms at Jermyn's House serve food.

Paths are extensive and largely accessible, with a donation-based buggy shuttle and bookable mobility scooters. Carers of disabled visitors go free. Dogs are not allowed other than assistance dogs. Winter hours begin on 25 October 2026.