Bressingham Gardens

The Bressingham Gardens encompass 16 acres of ornamental gardens and Alan Bloom’s Steam Museum.

Alan Bloom's 'Dell Garden'

Alan Bloom, founder of the Blooms nursery business, created the Dell Garden and its famous 'Island Beds' from 1955-1962. This unique garden is now world renowned for its collection of nearly 5,000 species and varieties of hardy perennials set in a park like meadow.

The wonderful rural setting of the Dell Garden has color and interest from spring to autumn and is a mecca for perennial lovers from all over the world. The 47 Island Beds, designed and introduced by Alan, show off his wide and varied collection of plants including many Bressingham-raised varieties. Alan was one of the most respected plantsman of twentieth century, and was often found talking with visitors outside his home, Bressingham Hall. Jaime Blake, his son-in-law, carries on the family tradition as Curator of this historic garden, maintaining and developing it and the collection of plants.

Adrian Bloom's 'Foggy Bottom' Garden

Equally famous yet totally different from his father's Dell Garden, Adrian has created a garden for all seasons at 'Foggy Bottom'. Situated only a few hundred yards from the Dell Garden and Bressingham Steam Experience, Foggy Bottom has been developed over 30 years to create a garden for year round interest. Trees, conifers and shrubs provide a continuous backdrop of shape and seasonal foliage, enhanced by plantings of perennials and ornamental grasses. Broad grass meandering pathways lead to changing vistas at every corner, with many plant associations and ideas that can easily be adapted for the smaller garden.

Adrian’s Wood

This ‘new’ Bressingham garden lies between the Dell and Foqgy Bottom gardens. It was first started in 1963 when Adrian planted many trees, including five Giant Redwoods, which he had brought back as seed from California. Thirty-five years went by as it became a forest, largely untouched until 2001 when much of it was cleared to create a new pathway linking the two now famous gardens for the first time.

The focus of the garden is North American native plants. Adrian hopes this garden will act as a focus and tribute to the invaluable North American horticultural heritage, which has contributed to the vast range of trees, shrubs and perennials that have become part of the British gardening heritage.

You can take a virtual tour around the Bressingham Gardens  with Adrian Bloom.

For details of opening days and times, contact the Bressingham Steam and Garden Information Centre. Admission to the Bressingham Gardens includes entrance to Alan Bloom's Dell Garden, Adrian Bloom's Foggy Bottom garden, the Summer Garden and Adrian's Wood - over 16 acres of garden in total. The Summer Garden holds the UK's National Collection® of Miscanthus, spectacular during late summer and autumn. Admission to the Bressingham Gardens also includes entrance to the Bressingham Steam Experience and the Dad's Army Collection.

Bressingham Steam and Gardens Information Centre
Telephone: 01379 686900
Fax: 01379 686907