Hare Hill Garden

In Brief.

Hare Hill is a compact but varied garden run by the National Trust. The centrepiece is a spacious walled garden, with borders and sculptures, but there are a variety of areas with different characters, including ponds and rock gardens.

The walled garden.

What's Here?

Hare Hill was once the garden of the adjacent, late 18th Century, Hare Hill Hall, which is visible from parts of the garden. The garden was redeveloped in the mid 20th Century by Colonel Charles Brocklehurst, who bequeathed the garden to the National Trust.  The walled garden contains statues in memory of the twin brother of Charles Brocklehurst, who was killed at 26 in a riding accident.

The borders.

The garden itself is a relaxing place; it is not not grand enough to be imposing, and given its modest scale, seems like a place for leisurely meandering.  There are a wide variety of trees, colourful rhododendrons in the spring, and different areas have varying characters - there is an area with ponds and bridges, a woodland walk and a rockery. In terms of wildlife, there are bee hives and a bird hide.

The centrepiece, though, is the substantial walled garden, with a lawn, a pergola, commemorative modern statues, some decorative seats and a variety of borders. Ideal for a picnic.  Overall, a garden for briefly getting-away-from-it-all in.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 18 miles. Also a few minutes drive from the National trust Alderley Edge site for more extensive walks and a muffin.

Drive Time: 50 minutes.

Price: $ (but likely to be quite expensive per hour for National Trust non-members)

Parking: There is a carpark on site without an additional fee.

Food and Drink: Uncharacteristically for a National Trust property, there is not currently a cafe.  On my visit, it was possible to get a take away coffee from the ticket booth.

Retail therapy: There is a second hand bookshop.

Child Friendly: There is a woodland play area close to the walled garden; ball games are not permitted.

Toilets: Yes - in the garden.

Do it justice in: 1 hour.

Inside-Outside: 0:100

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