Free Entry throughout December at The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park

30th November 2011

The Savill Garden is celebrating Christmas with free entry for all to the Garden throughout December (saving a family £15.50). The winter beds bring together a variety of beautiful and fragrant plants that brave the colder months and the seasonal displays in the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House will be stunning. There will also be a special treat for the family where you can follow the Plants of Christmas trail to find out some interesting facts about festive flora. The Garden is open from 10am to 4.30pm in winter with last entry at 4pm. (Normal car parking charges apply).

Harvey Stephens, Head of The Savill Garden, says:

“The winter beds bring together a range of beautiful plants that defy the drab winter weather. Variegated ivies, bright yellow Oshima sedge, blue sheep’s fescue grass and the golden Japanese rush all carpet the ground. The plants have flourished and established very well, forming subtle and striking combinations. Visitors can easily take away planting ideas which would look equally good in a terracotta pot on the patio or in a large garden.”

The bright yellow colour and deep aroma of mahonias, including rare and unusual examples, which form an important National Collection, will be at their peak in scattered locations throughout the Garden. 

Elsewhere in the Garden, look for winter berries on skimmias and hollies, together with seasonal mistletoe and the yellow, orange and burgundy coloured stemmed dogwoods. If conditions are favourable the yellow scented flowers of witch hazel may emerge before Christmas.

The Queen Elizabeth Temperate House will also have a vibrant seasonal display, providing a carpet of colour and a heady mix of perfumes. Carpets of white hyacinths and displays of poinsettias and cyclamen will provide Christmas cheer.

Nick Day, Operations Manager, The Crown Estate, adds:

“This year we are pleased that everybody will be able to enjoy the new family Plants of Christmas trail around the Garden, which will be great fun, as well as highlighting some of the interesting and important plants that can be found.”

The Savill Garden Restaurant will be offering a seasonal menu with traditional Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings (5-30 December) in addition to the daily hot meals and homemade soup. Treat yourself with one of our homemade cakes or mince pies coupled with a steamy hot chocolate, the perfect way to warm up after a brisk walk!

Browse our gift shop in The Savill Building for an extensive range of imaginative Christmas gifts, decorations and stocking fillers for all the family. A selection of smaller Christmas trees from the Windsor Estate will be available from the Shop. A full selection of Christmas trees will be available from Forest Gate (opposite Pink Lodge), off the A332.

The Savill Garden and Building will be closed on 24 and 25 December only; and open every day including Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For more information visit www.theroyallandscape.co.uk or call The Savill Building on 01784 435544.