This is one of my favourite times of year to think about changes to the garden, the leaves are falling off the trees and the perennials are dying back. I can start to see the bones of the space and think about whether it’s still working. Sometimes it is just as simple as planting a few more bulbs, to enjoy next spring. Or putting in bare root orders, ready to start planting hedging or new trees and shrubs from November. However, sometimes I like to get out and about for a little inspiration. Living in Yorkshire, I am incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful gardens on my doorstep, here are few of my favourites.

Autumn Vibes

For pure autumn colour, I find it’s hard to beat wandering around an arboretum. There are a few in Yorkshire from Thorp Perrow Arboretum, up near Bedale in the Yorkshire Dales to the Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard. There are so many trees to take inspiration from, regardless of garden size. The acer avenue at Thorp Perrow is a blaze of red around this time of year, standing out against a backdrop of dark green evergreen trees. If there is a slight breeze, there will often be a scent of candy floss or burnt sugar, before wandering round the corner to see the yellow heart-shaped leaves Cercidiphyllum japonicum. A tree that is found both at Thorp Perrow and Castle Howard.

At Castle Howard there is plenty of inspiration to be found, from wandering round the millennium arboretum to the acers in glorious shades of yellows, oranges and reds, to be found in Ray Wood within the castle grounds. Since the arboretum was a millennium project, I enjoy going back to see how the is filling out. They’ve even got a red squirrel enclosure now.

Year round colour and inspiration

One thing I like to do is to pick one garden each year to visit each year, to go back and see how it changes throughout the seasons. A great way to look at how the planting has been layered up to add colour from winter, through to spring and on into summer and autumn.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Yorkshire garden, Harlow Carr near Harrogate is one of my go to gardens. Being a garden in a valley, there are the long borders for sunny days, the woodland and the streamside garden (to mention a few). Whatever the conditions that you’re struggling for ideas for, whether it is shade or damp streamside areas they will have some inspiration. Not to mention the famous Yorkshire institution of Bettys has a branch there and a tea hut in the garden. Perfect for grabbing a coffee to wander round with.

Helmsley Walled Garden is another favourite, not one I visit in winter so much but it is full of ideas from spring until autumn. I’m always inspired by the planting combinations. Not to mention the orchard with the unusual fruit varieties or the raised vegetable beds. Full of ideas that can easily be translated into vegetable areas in a home garden. The café has amazing salads, sitting either in the vine house amongst the grapes or outside by the flowers when the sun is shining.

Fountains Abbey, near Ripon has a magical quality about it, as you come across the ruins nestled into a valley. Wandering along from the visitors’ centre the first glimpse that there is something more than a woodland walk is the sight of the main tower above the tree tops. Before dropping down through the trees and into the valley, to understand just how vast it must have been in its heyday. The ruins seem to glow in just about any season, a bright summer’s day, the fading autumn light or sprinkled with snow in winter. Or even in late autumn when there is a chance to see them floodlit. As well as the ruins there are the pleasure gardens and some smaller planted areas around the hall.

Relatable Spaces

Goddards is a hidden gem, in York. It was the home of the Terry family, the famous chocolate makers. The house at Goddards is now the regional offices of the National Trust but the gardens are still open from around April until the end of October. On a glorious, sunny day there is space to sit out on the large terrace and enjoy a coffee or wander round the garden with one in hand. The house was built to look out across the racecourse, to the clock tower of what was Terry’s chocolate factory. For a relatively small garden (compared to many larger homes) it has so many ideas to take home and use in your own space. From the formal water feature, to the woodland walk through to the wildflower meadow and orchard before returning to the formal borders around the house.

Beningbrough Hall is another National Trust property not far from York. I’ve recently been to visit to see Andy Sturgeon’s new garden. A Mediterranean garden that will adapt to climate change, whether that is hotter summers or higher rainfall. Or rather I’ve peered over the ropes and through the railings as it isn’t quite open. I can already see small seating areas with beautiful wooden chairs, that can often be more conducive to chatting than sitting on a bench. Not to mention the planting, can’t wait until it opens to wander through. I still enjoy the walled garden too, the way that fruit trees have been used to create arches to walk through, along the central path.

York Gate, near Leeds was originally created by the Spencer family, as a series of garden rooms. They took their inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement, particularly from gardens like Hidcote in Gloucestershire. As it is split into rooms, it is easy to visualise how the ideas could be used in a typical suburban or town garden. Whether looking to create a white garden, a productive garden, a more formal topiary garden or the informality of The Dell.

A little bit different

Parcevall Hall gardens (near Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales National Park) are centred around a valley, with the house and gardens on one slope and the woods on the other side. Once Sir William Milner had restored the house he started creating of the gardens in the 1920s. He was a passionate plantsman and also the honorary Director of the Northern Horticultural Society who started the gardens at Harlow Carr before the RHS took them over. He terraced the slope, including on the terraces a rock garden, a formal water feature and a rose garden. The plants were predominantly from the Himalayas and China. A truly magical place looking out over the Yorkshire Dales. Whether wanting to build up an appetite or stopping in between viewing the gardens and wandering up through the woods there is a lovely little café in the bottom of the valley.

Unsurprisingly valleys and slopes figure a lot in Yorkshire gardens, including The Himalayan Sculpture Garden. Another garden to visit near Ripon, one that is at its peak in spring, full of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias in bloom. The entrance leads you down the slope to the lake at the bottom and then meanders up the opposite side, with viewing points to stand and survey the garden and the wider landscape beyond. At any time of year there is a sculpture trail, to enjoy within the garden or enticing you to think about adding art to your own garden. Some of the sculptures are there permanently and then there are temporary sculptures that are brought in each spring for the open season and can be purchased.

Heading out of York along the A64 towards Scarborough (or a little further on from Castle Howard) is Scampston Walled Garden. It was designed by Piet Oudulf, with his trademark borders full of grasses and perennials, a spring and a summer garden. Not to mention the mound with steps leading up through a wildflower area to be able to look down and see the whole garden, like looking at a Masterplan or plan view of the design. The topiary blocks surrounding a central pool in The Silent Garden or the waves of grasses show just how much impact can be created with a small palette of plants. All this is juxtaposed against the backdrop of the wider estate that was designed by Capability Brown.

Bringing a little piece home

Dove Cottage Nursery near Halifax is one of my favourite places to buy plants, they have more unusual varieties than those often found in garden centres. The plants are all propagated on site so I know they are going to be Yorkshire hardy. It is so tempting to cram the car full of plants to bring home. On some days in summer tt is also possible to visit the garden, a beautiful abundance of colourful perennials and grasses, growing on the side of a hill. Showing just what can be achieved with your car load of plants once you get them home.

Stillingfleet Lodge (to the south of York) is packed full of plants both in the garden and the nursery, ready to bring home. Again the garden has been divided into distinct areas, including a meadow, a shade garden, a formal water garden and a profusion of plants spilling out of the borders. Not to mention the chickens the might follow you around and be sure to say hi to Donald, the cat.

Camilla Grayley is an experienced garden designer, speaker and writer based in York. She designs gardens and delivers garden consultancy services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK. Get in touch on 01904 670330 or info@camillagrayleydesign.com