Knightshayes

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United Kingdom - Devon - Tiverton

Institution Code:

BGCI Member: No

About the Knightshayes

The original Victorian garden was designed by the celebrated landscaper Edward Kemp, but the present more extensive gardens owe much to the late Sir John and Lady Heathcoat Amory who gave Knightshayes to the National Trust in 1972. The Amorys together designed, planted and maintained growing collections of magnolia, rhododendron, unusual trees and shrubs, bulbs and herbaceous plants within their "Garden in the Wood". This is laid out beyond the formal lawns surrounded by battlemented yews, a topiary chase scene and a circular lily pool. Knightshayes is a collection of gardens linked together by design using plant texture and colour to provide interest from early springtime to the autumn.

The walled garden is part of the original Victorian layout and was restored in 2011. It is soil association approved and is managed using stock free and low tillage methods. The varieties grown are generally classic or modern but we do care for a collection of about 150 varieties of tomatoes in seed and grow about 30-50 different varieties a year.

Main Address:
Knightshayes
Bolham
Tiverton
Devon EX16 7RQ United Kingdom

Telephone: 01884 254665
Fax:
URL: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes-court/
Primary Email: knightshayes@nationaltrust.org.uk

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Hilary McGrady
    Curator's Name: Head Gardener - Jess Evans
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Alison Crook - Plant Collections Curator
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 6
    Educational Staff Number:
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 1

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Other
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: No
    Status: Educational: No
    Status: Municipal: No
    Status: Satellite: No
    Status: Trust: Yes
  • Date founded: 1869
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
    Natural vegetation area: Size: 80 Hectares
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 22 Hectares
  • Total Area: 102 Hectares
    Latitude: 50.926427
    Longitude: -3.481047
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
    Arboretum: No
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: No
    Published Plant Catalogue: No
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Shop: Yes
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 180
    Number of Volunteers: 60

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:A large woody collection with good collections of Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, conifers, Camellias and Acers. A fair number of plants from the International Conifer Conservation Programme including Torreyas and Fitzroyas
    A collection of about 150 varieties of tomato seed with a good focus on Victorian varieties.
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: Yes
    ABS Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: No
    Medicinal Plant Programme: No
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: No
    Plant Breeding: Yes
    Conservation - Biology: No
    Conservation - Genetics: No
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: No
    Ecology: No
    Ecosystem Conservation: No
    Education: No
    Ethnobotany: No
    Exploration: No
    Floristics: No
    Horticulture: No
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: No
    Molecular Genetics: No
    Pollination Biology: No
    Restoration Ecology: No
    Seed/Spore Biology: No
    Systematics and Taxonomy: No
    Sustainability: No
    Pharmacology: No
    Agriculture: No
    Land Restoration: No
    Urban Environments: No

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: Yes
    Education Signs in Garden: No
    Public Lectures/Talks: No
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: No
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: No
    Special Exhibitions: No
    Courses for School Children: No
    Courses for University/College Students: No
    Courses for General Public: No
    Education Programme: No