Days out

Discover Bearwood College’s hidden rock and water garden

By Jon Nurse
May 18, 2012

Students have renovated a historical college garden that will go on display in an open garden event this month.

Bearwood College’s hidden rock and water garden is more than 200 years old and will be unveiled to the public on Sunday, May 27.

College students have worked in Saturday gardening sessions to renovate the garden.

The hidden garden was built between 1879 and 1885 for John Walter III, the last private owner of The Times newspaper. Students uncovered rock formations and removed a number of overgrown trees and shrubs which had broken up some concrete.

The garden is hidden because it was sunk in a deep but narrow former clay pit which provided some of the bricks for the mansion.

New rhododendron varieties, similar to those in place when the Walter family lived there, have been added by the students.

The gardens will be open from 2pm to 5pm on the Sunday. Entry is £4 and free for under-14s.

Wokefield Plants will be selling a range of plants including some unusual irises. Disabled access on the day is very restricted.

Bearwood’s Open Garden is part of the National Garden Scheme where private owners open their gardens to the public.

The college’s estate in Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, includes woodland walks, a lake, grass meadow and traditional icehouse.

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I understand that it's only open to the public on these days as it is an independent school and so it's one of the only chances you get to see these fantastic grounds.

Grumpy Old Student, Berks
20/05/2012 at 06:09

Sounds great.I often drive past and think I'd like to have a look at the grounds. Are the grounds - woodland walk and lake generally open to the public to walk around or are they just open for special events such as this?