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Broadcaster and writer Alan Titchmarsh MBE spoke of the importance of preserving Britain’s landscape gardening heritage as he agreed to become Patron of the Painshill Park Trust.

The renowned gardening expert accepted the position on a visit to Painshill, where he chatted with trustees, staff and volunteers and took a tour of our historic 18th century gardens.

He joins HRH The Prince of Wales, Royal Patron of the Trust, in supporting the ongoing work to restore the gardens, which fell into ruin after the Second World War.

Mr Titchmarsh said: “It was a pleasure to visit Painshill recently and to see for myself the extraordinary progress which has been made over 40 years of restoration. I am delighted to become a Patron of this wonderful charity and I hope we can continue the important work to restore and preserve Painshill for current and future generations.”

Sir Stephen Lamport, Chairman of Painshill Park Trust, said: “Painshill is an exceptionally important piece of Britain’s heritage.  We are delighted that Alan Titchmarsh has kindly agreed to become one of our Patrons.

“We very much look forward to his association with our work to secure Painshill’s legacy as one of the finest examples of the English Landscape Movement.”

As Patron, one of Mr Titchmarsh’s first priorities is to support ongoing fundraising efforts for the restoration of the Woollett Bridge at Painshill.

The bridge is a vital part of the popular Painshill circular walk, allowing visitors to leave the park’s unique Crystal Grotto and cross the stunning lake in the heart of the landscape.

Heavy flooding in recent years has caused serious rotting and the bridge, currently supported by temporary structures, must be replaced.

Our appeal was launched in 2021 with the aim of raising the £120,000 to £130,000 needed to build a replacement.

Mr Titchmarsh said: “The project to replace the Woollett Bridge is vital to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy this historic landscape and have access to the amazing Crystal Grotto. Painshill is a sanctuary for people and preserving it for future generations is a very worthy cause. Please join me in supporting Painshill by donating today and spreading the word about this important project.’

To find out more about donating to the Woollett Bridge appeal, please visit: www.painshill.co.uk/support-painshill/latest-restoration-project/

1. The Gothic Tower

The Gothic Tower will open from Saturday 1 until Sunday 16 April. Climb to the top, admire the view and treat yourself to snacks and drinks in the pop-up café.

2. Wild Garlic in flower

Wild garlic grows all the way along the banks of the River Mole. You can spot the stunning delicate white flowers when walking along the south of the lake and around the Mausoleum and cascade.

3. Fresh leaves on the trees

Spring has truly sprung! The fresh leaves are coming out of the trees, starting with the ash and sycamore trees.

4. Dragons

Magical beasts have come to lay their eggs at Painshill this springtime. It is a trail that’s perfect for all the family. Pick up a route map in the Visitor Centre and see if you can spot them all.

5. Vines emerging

The landscape staff and volunteers work hard in the vineyard throughout the year. New vines are planted in the autumn and hopefully we will soon start to see the fruits (grapes!) of their labours. April is when the fresh growth starts to appear.

Ever since the Concerto Weddings Company left the Walled Garden in 2020, Painshill Park Trust have been keen to restore it to its 18th century splendour. In Charles Hamilton’s era, which the Painshill Park Trust aims to replicate, the walls of the Walled Garden were planted with fruit trees.

Thanks to support from Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust, we have been able to plant 30 trees in this incredible space.

The walls show the alcoves and inlets that are perfect for growing, with an overhang to protect from frost and columns to enclose the tree. The walls, which were built in the 1750’s, are littered with holes where various supports have been attached over the years.

We have a good indication of what has been grown against the walls as we have some of the original 18th century labels still attached to the walls. Whilst cultivating the beds we have dug up a number of the original Victorian labels which have the most fantastic names such as Pear “Chaumontel”, Plum “Kirke’s Blue” & Pear “Glou Morceau”.

A large number of apple varieties have been planted including Blenheim Orange, Ellison’s Orange & Beauty of Bath.

Against the South facing wall we intend to plant Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots to take advantage of the sun all day long.

Mirabelle plums have been planted against the North facing wall.

The Walled Garden is currently not open to visitors while we undertake the task of restoring it. However, it can be easily viewed via the Kitchen Garden, which is open daily and found at the entrance of Painshill.

We also use our Walled Garden for summer events. Why not bring along a picnic and enjoy outdoor theatre or comedy in the garden this season.

We are very grateful to Charitable Trusts like the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust as their support is enabling us to continue vital restoration at Painshill. If you would like to make a donation, you can find out about our latest project. To support through a Trust or grant making committee please email fundraising@painshill.co.uk.

Live music will rock Painshill this summer as a series of world-renowned tribute and cover bands bring a fantastic festival vibe to our stunning gardens.

Rick Parfitt Jr, motor racing driver and son of legendary Status Quo rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt, is just one of the names featuring at Painshill’s Live Music Lates through June and July.

Music from the greats comes courtesy of some of the world’s finest tribute bands, including The Bon Jovi Experience, The Trembling Wilburys and Zinc Floyd, and cover bands will bring the biggest hits from everyone from The Jam and The Who to Madness and Oasis.

Terrific Tributes

Painshill’s Live Music Lates will run from 5.30pm – 9pm, giving visitors the chance to walk through the stunning historic landscape and watch the sun lowering over the lake before taking a seat in the tree-lined amphitheatre for 7pm.

Cracking Cover Bands

Vintage food trucks will be serving delicious local produce, from buttermilk fried chicken and duck confit to authentic Greek food and woodfired pizza, and drinks will be available from stylish mobile bar Corks Occasions.

Join Painshill for summer nights of music, food and dancing.

This Easter we have a host of fun for all the family at Painshill.

Come along and enjoy a day out full of eggs-iting adventures!

Find all the characters in Painshill’s big Easter Egg Statue Trail

Giant eggs will be waiting to be discovered in the Painshill landscape. Come along and see if you can find all the colourful characters.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Sunday 24 April.

BOOK TO VISIT

Climb to the top of The Gothic Tower

After two years of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are delighted to reopen The Gothic Tower this Easter. Climb to the top and take a look at the view then reward yourself with tea and cake.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Tuesday 19 April.

BOOK TO VISIT

Visit the Crystal Grotto

Step inside a sparkling crystal cave and marvel at the light reflecting across the ceiling. Over the school holidays the Grotto will be open daily, including Mondays.

Book to visit any day between Saturday 2 and Sunday 24 April.

BOOK TO VISIT

Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea

Relax in comfort as you sip a glass of chilled sparkling wine and enjoy our homemade scones, freshly made sandwiches and indulgent cakes.

BOOK AFTERNOON TEA

Step into spring

The season when everything comes alive is a wonderful time to get outdoors and explore. Daffodils line the banks of the lake and bluebells are on their way!

Look out for baby birds, including ducklings and goslings, around the lake at this time of year.

BOOK TO VISIT

Spring is one of the prettiest times in the landscape and the season really gets going in March.

1. Enjoy the daffodils

Walk into the landscape right now and you will be greeted with a host of golden daffodils. They have to be the most triumphant spring flowers – nothing says ‘winter is over’ quite like their bright yellow blooms. The area around the visitor centre is covered in them. To see more, carry on to the bottom of the vineyard where they line the lake.  

2. Say hello to the goslings

New families have started arriving around the lake. We already have some gorgeous Egyptian goslings to look out for around Grotto Island.

Did you know that Egyptian Geese were indeed originally from Egypt, as the name suggests. They were brought over in the 17th century because English gentlemen were stuck by their beautiful colours and thought they would look very eye-catching by the lakes and ponds of their estates. Despite the colder climate the Egyptian Geese have maintained a small population since.

3. Look out for wild garlic

In March, wild garlic starts to bloom all the way along the banks of the river. You may spot white flowers or, if they haven’t bloomed yet, heaps of green leaves and buds. Step towards them and there is no mistaking the smell!

4. Celebrate Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day treat your mum to a day around the landscape. Enjoy spotting the new mothers with their goslings around the lake or walk up to the Temple of Bacchus and take in the view.

We have Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea being served if you would like to indulge in scones, sandwiches and sweet treats. Toast to your mum with a glass of Painshill’s very own sparkling wine.

5. Stop and spot the flowers

Daffodils are not the only flower to herald the new season. There is still a scattering of snowdrops to enjoy around the lake and crocus are blooming in the woodlands around the Visitor Centre.

Fun and colourful characters are coming to Painshill this Easter holiday. Large statues of painted eggs will include a Cow, a Hen, a Pirate and a Unicorn.

We have one egg however that is blank and we need your ideas!

Draw your egg character design, or download our handy template below, and email it to marketing@painshill.co.uk to enter our competition. We will take the winning design and have it painted onto a huge egg to feature in our trail.

The winner will receive free tickets to Painshill to come and see their egg character in the landscape.

The competition is open to all ages and it closes on Friday 25 February.

Today we were delighted to welcome The Mayor of the Borough of Elmbridge, Councillor Tony Popham, and the Mayoress, Mrs Jo Wright, to plant a new Cedar of Lebanon at Painshill in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people and organisations from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

The Painshill team chose a Cedar of Lebanon because of the rich history that species has in the landscape. The gardens at Painshill already boast many long-standing specimens including “The Great Cedar” a tree planted by Charles Hamilton in the 18^th century that has become the largest multi-stemmed Cedar in Europe. Hamilton, the creator of Painshill, was described as “painting with plants” and he used them to create atmosphere and beauty. He planted a Cedar in particular places to draw the eye of the visitor and create a dramatic moment in a view.

We very much hope that this new Cedar will have a long future ahead of it and stand in celebration of Her Majesty’s 70 years of service for generations to come.

Hello February – the most romantic month of the year. Full of new life and new hope.

With engagement season in full swing and Valentine’s Day on the 14^th this is the month where love is in the air.

Whether you are in a couple or just in love with the landscape, here’s five ways you can enjoy Painshill this month.

1. Enjoy a romantic walk

With glorious views and enchanting follies Painshill is a natural place for romance. Many people have been known to choose a walk around the grounds as the perfect first date or to pop the question in the Crystal Grotto or the Gothic Temple. The lake views were used in Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton as the setting for the Duke and Duchess of Hastings to promenade and fall in love.

Bring your loved one along for a walk or make a day more special by booking a couples photography shoot.

2. Spot signs of spring

February is when we start to see some lovely signs of spring. Little green buds that started in January become snowdrops and the shoots of daffodils start to emerge. We also have our first families around the lake, normally led by the Egyptian Goose.

3. Join us for Valentine’s Day Afternoon Tea

For a special Valentine’s Day this year why not dine in our award-winning Crystal Grotto. This exclusive one-day event is a truly unique experience. Indulge in homemade scones and a glass of Painshill wine whilst enjoying the sparkling romance of the setting.

4. Enjoy the landscape for longer

February can often be a month of bright days. They might be cold on occasion but you can start to feel now that the sun is up for longer. From Fri 10 Feb, we change our opening times to 10am – 5pm to take advantage of the lengthening of the sunlight.

5. Bring the family this February half-term  

This February half-term enjoy a day out that is fun for all the family. Head out around our accessible route, perfect for those with buggies, and see if you can spot birds, green shoots, blossom buds and spring flowers.

This year we have a family trail full of amazing facts. Little ones can discover how plants draw up water, how boats float and how rainbows are formed. Pick up a map in the Visitor Centre to follow the trail route and explore the landscape.

Painshill Park Trust is pleased that during 2022 the landscape garden will undergo a project to build a new car park.

Many members and visitors to Painshill will be aware that in wet weather the current car park deteriorates quickly and the surface becomes very muddy and uneven.

In order to secure the future of Painshill and to enable us to deliver a fantastic visitor experience a new car park has long been needed.

Painshill Park Trust has been working hard to resolve the issue for a number of years.

We are pleased to have been granted both financial assistance from Elmbridge Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and planning permission by EBC in autumn 2020.

The new car park will be located on Goldstone Field, directly across from the entrance bridge, which EBC has leased to Painshill. The existing car park will be returned to Green Belt once the new car park is in use.

It will include 260 car spaces on a hard standing surface, 5 coach spaces and 8 accessible or Blue Badge parking bays which will be situated close to the entrance bridge. It will be supplied with appropriate drainage and electricity for future CCTV and lighting.

Timeline of the work

February 2022

Work will begin on preparing the field. Some trees will need to be felled and bushes cut back. We will do this work within the guidelines of an expert independent ecology report. It will be completed as early as possible before the nesting season to ensure the least amount of disruption to birdlife. The reptiles and amphibians in the area will be surveyed and, if needed, protected or moved to new habitats.

Before work commences, archeologists will survey the area. They will be digging around 11 trenches to record the area carefully and uncover anything of historical importance.

Approx. May 2022

Work will begin on building the new car park. Regular updates will be added to this blog, please check back to find out more.

Approx. August 2022

The new car park will open for visitors and work will begin to return the site of the old one to Green Belt. We will be replanting as grassland to ensure there is a continued habitat for wildlife and that we minimize our environmental impact.

Into the future

When funds allow, Painshill Park Trust intends to continue to improve the car park by installing CCTV, electric car charging points for a sustainable future and electric security gates. The new car park will be designed in a way to allow these improvements to be made in stages in the years to come.   

If you have a question or would like to know more please take a look at our FAQs or email us at info@painshill.co.uk 

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FAQs

Will there be times when there is no parking at Painshill?

No, there will always be parking available for visitors. Due to the fact we are moving the site of the car park we will be able to keep the old one open until the new one is ready.

Will the new car park still be free for visitors?

Yes, the car park will still be free. We will continue to enforce that it is only used by people visiting the landscape garden.

How can Painshill Park Trust, a small charity, afford a new car park?

Painshill has been granted financial aid from EBC’s Community Infrastructure Levy as well as using some of our own funds.

Will walkers still be able to access the footpath/public right of way?

Yes, a right of way will be maintained at all times. However it might move location. Please follow the signs at all times when walking through the site.  

What will happen if the archaeology work finds something of significant historical importance?

If items of historical interest are found during the archaeology work, further trenches will be dug. Painshill Park Trust will be liaising with Surrey County Archaeologist. We will not know the outcome of this work until it is completed so please keep an eye on this page or our social media for updates.

How will you ensure you reduce your environmental impact and don’t disrupt the local wildlife?

The tree felling, clearing and building work will be undertaken in strict accordance with an expert independent ecology report.  Painshill Park Trust will do its utmost to ensure that, while making space for cars, we minimize the impact on wildlife and the environment.  Once the new car park is open the old one will be replanted and returned to Green Belt.

How does this project secure Painshill’s future?

Painshill will have its own car park that will be used throughout the year. The existing car park is rented, incurring an annual cost for the charity.