Monday, 17 December 2012

Leonardslee Re-opening

This is the best news I've heard for a long time. This amazing Sussex grade-1 listed garden closed in 2010, much to my sadness. Now the news is that the gardens are re-opening in 2013. Little is known about the new owner, but to my relief it would appear the gardens have been developed further, and many deer have been purchased for the wider estate. I've also heard whisperings of a new restaurant. For those of you who have not visited, it has the most amazing collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, gathered around a series of lakes. The rock garden is just breathtaking:


When I hear any more news of the re-opening I'll be sure to post it here! Can't wait to visit this iconic garden again.
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30 comments:

  1. Mark and Gaz17 December 2012 at 11:02

    This garden must look wonderful especially in the spring when all those rhododendrons and azaleas are in bloom. Thank for letting us know of its re-opening!

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  2. Mary Pellerito21 December 2012 at 11:02

    Wow. That doesn't look real. I'm looking forward to reading more about this garden.

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  3. Unknown23 December 2012 at 08:33

    I do hope this is true, but rumours of its reopening have been circulating for two years now. There's even a website purporting to belong to the garden.

    Care to divulge the source of these latest rumours?

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    1. Unknown23 December 2012 at 16:19

      It's on the official website, and was announced on BBC Radio Sussex last Sunday on the 'Diggit' gardening programme.

      Delete
  4. Unknown8 April 2013 at 20:40

    According to the West Sussex Gazette, no timetable is suggested for the reopening but, given the amount of work set out in their application for planning permission and listed building consent, fans of public gardens should probably be prepared to wait for a year or two.

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    1. Unknown16 April 2013 at 08:34

      As long as I can dream about visiting Leonardslee once more, I can wait! Thanks for the update.

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    2. Anonymous22 August 2013 at 13:27

      Has it not occurred to anyone that they only said they'd open the garden in order to get the planning application passed?

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    3. Unknown10 March 2016 at 21:36

      Three years later and it is beginning to look that way.

      Delete
    4. Rob L23 February 2017 at 07:03

      Such a shame since I moved to Horsham 3 years ago been wanting to go and see the gardens. Might just sneek in. We are 5 years on now nearly. When this was up for sale west Sussex council should of acquired it or national parks. Bit selfish to keep the garden hidden all these years.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous27 April 2013 at 13:46

    What about the Beyond the Doll House exhibition that was also a feature

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  6. Anonymous21 May 2013 at 16:23

    What excellent news.

    Have just walked down one edge of the garden. Looking as wonderful as ever.

    Lot of work going on to establish a high deer fence.

    Michael Hill

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  7. Anonymous20 June 2013 at 10:57

    Hi

    This is great news !

    Does anyone know who manages the gardens or who I could talk to about getting access for a possible art project?

    Lisa Meaney

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  8. Anonymous21 June 2013 at 13:35

    This would be fantastic if true! will have to wait and see.

    I remember hearing that 2 young people bought this together: one a famous gardener whom had won awards at the Chelsea flower show for a world garden, shaped like the flat atlas with plants from each country in their own geographical places. He was kidnapped for around a year while abroad when released came back to the UK and bought and closed the gardens. I saw him talking on This Morning TV show while being interviewed about both of these topics.

    It would be great if they decided to start to use this as a venue to hold rural linked craft shows again, like it used to be. I use to demonstrate basket making here with more than one organiser. It was one of the most beautiful venues I had the pleasure of exhibiting at. I used to do very well here and I only had to travel from Worthing.

    I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO THE OWNERS TO SEE IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ORGANISING A THEMED RURAL CRAFT SHOW THERE ONCE A YEAR.

    Please get in contact using my website if so www.sussexwillowbaskets.co.uk

    Stephen Caulfield

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  9. Anonymous20 October 2013 at 10:28

    I can't wait, oh how I've missed going to this place. The gardens, wallabies, the dolls house, the lakes, I can go on. . .
    Nowhere bests st leonadslee.
    I'll keep looking for an update.

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  10. Anonymous11 November 2013 at 16:13

    Hi

    I keep looking I would like to make contact too, as I think it is taking so long and I have only been once would love love love to go again

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  11. Anonymous5 July 2014 at 20:48

    Can`t wait for this garden to open, beautiful should have never closed. debs of peacehaven

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  12. Anonymous13 November 2014 at 10:19

    My parents loved these gardens and their ashes where scattered there up the time the gardens where closed our family made regular visits.It was an amazing place to wander and collect one's thoughts and be at one with nature, no matter how busy the garden was you could still find space and tranquility. I wait with bated breath regarding the reopening.
    Phil Stratton

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  13. Anonymous20 November 2014 at 21:20

    So is there any genuine plan to reopen the gardens to the public?

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  14. Ravensbourne Valley Preservation Society21 November 2014 at 01:21

    They have been granted planning permission by Horsham District Council to make changes to the buildings and land. They are under no legal obligation to re-open the gardens once the work has been carried out.

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  15. Anonymous22 November 2014 at 18:23

    That is what I thought. Maybe the council has been naive? I'd love to see it reopen but I'm not optimistic. It's tragic that such a beautiful garden is closed to the public.

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  16. Anonymous26 March 2015 at 10:08

    I visited Leonardslee many times and the rhodedendrons were the best I have ever seen - was so upset when it closed - do hope it does re-open soon - such a beautiful place should be available for everyone not a previledged few.

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  17. Anonymous31 July 2015 at 19:54

    What a shame still no news on these beautiful gardens re-opening as they give so much joy to so many people. Come on owners of Leonarsdslee please please let us share this beautiful place with you.

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  18. Unknown7 April 2016 at 23:29

    please let me know if Leonardslee Gardens will open again. Chris Rudrum

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  19. Anonymous28 April 2016 at 15:52

    doesn't appear to be anything going on there, looks very overgrown from the outside.

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    1. Anonymous4 August 2016 at 14:17

      If this is overgrown it seems to me that it would have been a Middle Eastern buyer who when purchases never looks after a property.

      Delete
  20. Unknown29 June 2016 at 12:58

    Hi, does anyone know what happened to the "beyond the doll's house" exhibition that was at Leonardslee? I'm hoping it didn't stay in the house and can still be seen somewhere.

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    1. Rob17 April 2017 at 15:33

      Just been by the old entrance and see a For Sale board. Any information anyone?

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  21. C.SHARP26 April 2017 at 20:29

    Are these beautiful gardens gong to ever reopen PLEASE ????

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  22. C.SHARP26 April 2017 at 20:33

    WHO EVER OWNS THESE BEAUTIFUL GAEDENS PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US ???

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  23. Unknown13 July 2017 at 02:11

    http://www.hortweek.com/leonardslee-gardens-new-owner/parks-and-gardens/article/1439303

    South African-based entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE has acquired the 200 acre Leonardslee Gardens estate at Lower Beeding, near Horsham in West Sussex, with plans to restore and upgrade the site and open it to the public once again.

    She said: "We will restore the gardens to their former glory and create new facilities on site, including tea rooms and dining facilities, as a major local attraction for families, wedding groups and others." [Pretty much what the previous owners said in 2010!]

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