Explore the pretty parks and glorious gardens in Staffordshire, home to everything from England’s greatest landscapes to more romantic settings – perfect getaways for you and someone special.
Gardens in Staffordshire
Lose yourself in the work of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, a giant among English garden designers, in the sweeping parkland of Weston Park on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border, and the uplifting oasis of calm at The Trentham Estate, on the doorstep of bustling Stoke-on-Trent.
You’re guaranteed an uplifting day out at Weston Park, full of historic sights like Paine’s Bridge and Pauslip’s Tunnel at Temple Wood, and the mazes, fruit trees and wild flower meadows of the walled gardens.
And you can’t fail to be inspired by Brown’s vision and ambition at The Trentham Estate, lovingly restored by Tom Stuart-Smith and Piet Oudolf, both multiple gold medallists at the Chelsea Flower Show.
At the National Memorial Arboretum, as well as more than 400 memorials, each with their own significance and symbolism, there are about 30000 trees – both native British and specimens from around the world.
In Tamworth, at Middleton Hall, home of the Police Museum, there are also 32 acres of grounds to explore around Middleton Pool, including a nature trail, orchard and 46 species of breeding birds such as kingfishers, woodpeckers and mute swans.
And the Walled Gardens, which date back to the early 1700s, are packed with flora and fauna which reveal the discoveries of John Ray, the ‘Father of English Botany’, who lived and worked at Middleton Hall in the 17th Century.
There’s more Staffordshire history on show at Moseley Old Hall, the farmhouse which helped Charles II escape Cromwell’s troops in 1651, which is also home to an intricate, almost 400-year-old knot garden.
At Biddulph Grange Garden, you can go on a journey from the heart of the country to exotic Chinese temples, Himalayan glens and golden Buddhist cows, alongside eccentric centuries-old fossil displays.
While at the small but perfectly-formed Dorothy Clive Garden, painstakingly created by Colonel Harry Clive for his wife, you’ll fall in love with the intimate floral displays, including a stunning Laburnum Arch.
There are great gardens at the Shugborough Estate, with Grade I listed formal gardens, an island arboretum and more, and at World of Wedgwood, where you can wander through the award-winning show garden and take the nature trail through 100 acres of woodland.
Admire the magnificent displays of roses and rhododendrons at Wightwick Manor, and the snowdrops and daffodils at Rode Hall & Gardens.
Parks in Staffordshire
Away from Staffordshire gardens, there are also many parks and green spaces in the county, which offer perfect picnic and dog-walking territory.
On the banks of the River Sow in Stafford town centre is the gorgeous Victoria Park, complete with aviary, sensory raised garden, and children’s play area including trampoline, sand pit and 7ft climbing net.
Against one of Staffordshire’s most spectacular backdrops, the Tamworth Castle Pleasure Grounds are home to beautiful floral terraces, a state-of-the-art skate park, and medieval jousting on St George’s Day, as well as the eye-opening Planet Walk created to mark the Millennium.
And the 19th Century Beacon Park, in Lichfield, offers woodland walks, children’s play areas and an exciting programme of events featuring musical productions and festivals.
In Stoke-on-Trent city centre, Hanley Park is a Victorian gem with pavilion, boathouse, lake and artworks to discover, and Central Forest Park is a beautiful green space with the Stoke Skate Plaza, plus lake and grassland, home to many unusual plants.
Elsewhere in the north of the county, Brough Park in Leek is an open meadow and woodland with stunning views of The Roaches, while Lyme Valley in Newcastle-under-Lyme is a tranquil spot with plenty of sports facilities and events throughout the year.
And in East Staffordshire, the Trent Washlands in Burton upon Trent is a haven for wildlife like herons and dragonflies, while there is also a sculpture trail, centenary woodland, and the stunning Burton Ferry Bridge to enjoy.
