Blenheim Palace's Head Gardener Andy Mills is leading the biggest change to the Oxfordshire World Heritage Site's landscape in more than a century, restoring forgotten features while rethinking how parts of the estate are managed.
Set within more than 2,000 acres of Capability Brown parkland, the estate has evolved over more than 300 years. Now, behind the sweeping lawns and formal terraces, another transformation is taking place, balancing the protection of history with making space for wildlife.
Letting the grass grow
Some of the most dramatic results have come not from adding more, but from cutting less. One change stands out: letting the grass grow. Andy said, "The wildflowers proliferating throughout the uncut grassland and the subsequent knock-on effect of this upon the bugs, birds and beasties is fantastic."
Asked which space has undergone the greatest transformation, he replied: "Probably the grassland, which up until 2022 was cut within an inch of its life and was afraid to grow." The team now leaves approximately 60 acres to grow long before taking a hay crop.
Exploring the garden
Asked what first-time visitors most often miss, Andy's answer was: "The majority of the Garden." The Rosarium, Secret Garden, Cascades and historic temples are among the areas being restored.
He does not prescribe a rigid route around the grounds. "I would suggest that a visitor sees where their feet lead them and explore the Garden as they see fit - this place has been here over 300 years and will be here for their next visit."
A historic garden looking forward
For Andy, Blenheim's scale is only part of what makes it unusual. "There are not many other Gardens of this size and historic importance that are undergoing such a drastic overdue transformation," he said. "We are restoring and transforming a work of art which has been forgotten for too long."
Halloween at Blenheim Palace runs from Thursday, October 22 until Sunday, November 1. The after-dark trail will transform the grounds with light displays, immersive entertainment and spooky surprises, including the Spider's Lair, a ghostly Pirate's Wreck, Vampire Hunters and the Catacombs. Seasonal food and warming drinks, including hot chocolate, will be available along the route.
