A Botanically-Rich Family Estate
Witness the passion of five generations of the Stephenson Clarke Family and their work to preserve the Estate for centuries to come
Our History
Plants and in particular the medicinal power of plants have been in our DNA since 1598 when Stephen Borde, the grandson of Henry VIll’s private herbalist and physician Andrew Borde, rebuilt the picturesque Elizabethan Mansion House at the core of our Estate.
Our Future
Our Estate
A family Estate nestled in the heart of the High Weald
Borde Hill is a 2,300-acre Estate in West Sussex which has been owned by the Stephenson Clarke Family for 130 years (1893-2023). Thirteen stunning ‘Garden rooms’ surround the House with Grade-II* listed heritage Parkland and ancient Woodland beyond. The backcloth of the wider Estate is made up of many native and exotic champion trees and open farmland.
A Halloween Whodunnit – Kids Trail & Activities
Saturday 19th October to Sunday 3rd November
Dare to explore the Garden on a spooky Halloween trail, or join our spine-tingling activities on selected days, including Reptiles, Explosive Science Shows, Monster Parties and Magic Shows.
Volunteer with Us
Gardening is good for mental and physical wellbeing. Join our Garden Team in digging, planting and weeding, to reap the benefits of being in the great outdoors at one of the most celebrated Sussex gardens.
We have a range of other volunteering roles available including Tour Guides, Event Assistants and Office Volunteers.
Reinventing Borde Hill
Reinventing Borde Hill forms a key part of our wider future vision to connect communities with the restorative power of nature, helping local communities feel mentally and physically replenished, and inspiring future generations through outdoor learning.
Discover the Possibilities
Become a Member
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Our Garden & Grounds
Set within 383 acres of heritage listed Parkland, our formal Garden captivates and delights visitors with a series of intimate 'Garden rooms'. Beyond the formal Garden you can explore Woodland walks, the South Park and our lakes with outstanding views across the Sussex High Weald.
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Support Us
As a small, independent Garden Charity, we rely on your kind generosity to help fund our projects and to continue to grow sustainably, protecting our natural heritage for generations to come. 'Reinventing Borde Hill' is our most ambitious project to date and your support will help us to achieve exciting plans to benefit our local community.
It would make a huge difference if you would consider supporting us by making a donation – thank you.
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Testimonials
Such a lovely place to visit regularly. Membership is really good value and there are lots of events including Sculpture and Plant Fairs as well as music and food festivals. Friendly staff too. It's a lovely walk through what feels like different gardens and great to experience the seasons. It feels as though you're in the middle of the countryside when in fact the nearest town is only a short distance away.
Patricia - Tripadvisor, October 2022
We loved visiting Borde Hill and have plans to come back! I visited with a friend and our two boys (14 and 17 months) and we enjoyed every aspect. For a young family it’s ideal, there’s lots of paths with flowers and shrubs either side of the paths (effectively acting as borders) so our toddlers could potter along the paths without going too far or going the wrong way. We followed a nature trail which was excellently set out and well run. There’s a wonderful range of plants and flowers, some really interesting things and some beautiful and tranquil gardens. We found the paths pushchair friendly.
Rtownoflondon - Tripadvisor, May 2022
We have just moved to Balcombe. We’ve joined Borde Hill as we had our wedding reception here in 1983! The gardens are lovely. We walked all the way around the woodland walk through Stephanie’s Glade and also around the formal gardens, which have some lovely spring flowers. As a rose lover, I can’t wait to see the rose garden in bloom. Next time we will do the lake walk. So nice to have this on our doorstep.
Teabus, Tripadvisor - March 2022
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