Highdown Gardens facts for kids
Highdown Gardens is a special place located on the western edge of Worthing, a town in West Sussex, England. It's close to the village of Ferring and a historic site called Highdown Hill. These gardens sit on the South Downs hills, looking out over the sea.
What makes Highdown Gardens unique is its amazing collection of rare plants and trees. It's even home to a National Plant Collection, which means it holds a very important group of plants for the whole country. The gardens are free to visit and are looked after by the Worthing Borough Council.
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Creating Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens started in a very unusual spot: a chalk quarry. This meant there was very little soil, and the conditions were tough for plants to grow. But a man named Sir Frederick Stern (1884–1967) and his wife saw its potential.
A Vision on Chalk
In 1909, Sir Frederick and his wife bought the land, which was about 8.52 acres (3.45 hectares). They spent 50 years working hard to prove that beautiful plants could indeed grow on chalky ground. Their efforts turned a challenging quarry into a thriving garden.
Plants from Faraway Lands
The time when Highdown Gardens was being created was also a period when many explorers traveled to places like China and the Himalayas. They were collecting rare and exciting plants to bring back to England. Many of the original plants in Highdown Gardens today came from these early expeditions. Some were collected by famous plant hunters like Reginald Farrer and Ernest Henry Wilson.
A Gift to the Community
Sir Frederick Stern passed away in 1967 when he was 83 years old. Following his wishes, his wife, Lady Stern, made sure the gardens would continue to be enjoyed by everyone. She gave Highdown Gardens to the Worthing Borough Council. This gift ensures that the gardens remain open and free for all visitors to explore and enjoy.
What You Can See in the Gardens
Highdown Gardens is beautiful throughout the year, but especially in spring and early summer. During these seasons, you can see many different flowers blooming in succession.
Spring and Summer Blooms
The gardens burst with color from various flowering bulbs. You can spot delicate snowdrops, bright crocus, pretty anemones, and cheerful daffodils. As spring turns into summer, these are followed by lovely paeonies and elegant bearded iris.
