In the press: Burghley's Beautiful Gardens

The Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award recognises horticultural excellence at publicly accessible gardens belonging to member properties of Historic Houses, the association that represents and supports the UK’s independent historic homes, castles and gardens. Selected from hundreds of entries, just six gardens have been shortlisted by an expert panel to go forward to a public vote, and Burghley is proud to be among them.

The Gardens at Burghley form part of a landscape shaped over more than 500 years. From their beginnings under William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley, to the enduring influence of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, Burghley has long been a place of considered and imaginative garden making.

In recent years, the Gardens have been thoughtfully reshaped under the direction of Head Gardener Joe Whitehead, with a focus on creating a dynamic, resilient and nature-rich landscape. Layered planting schemes provide structure, texture and seasonal interest throughout the year, while a natural, organic approach supports biodiversity alongside horticultural excellence.

Nicholas and Clare Rudd-Jones of Stamford Living recently met with Joe to take a fresh look at Burghley’s Gardens, exploring how the landscape blends centuries of history with contemporary planting and design to create an immersive visitor experience. The feature highlights the Gardens as a place where history, art and horticulture come together to create a calm, engaging environment that encourages visitors to slow down, explore and reconnect with nature.

Joe was also joined by Emily Scialom of The Moment magazine to discuss the restoration and continued evolution of Burghley’s Gardens and the 46-acre grounds surrounding Burghley House in Lincolnshire. The article explores how Burghley balances historic landscape heritage with modern horticulture, preserving the legacy of Capability Brown while adapting the Gardens to remain inspiring, relevant and engaging for today’s visitors.

Also joining Joe in the Gardens was Rob Davis from Stamford Pride. The feature explores the story behind Burghley's Gardens and the shortlisting for the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, highlighting how Joe has helped shape the Gardens into a dynamic and immersive visitor destination. 

The article explores Burghley’s 46-acre landscape, from the contemporary planting and sculpture of the Sculpture Garden to the theatrical, Elizabethan-inspired Garden of Surprises, while showcasing Joe’s layered planting philosophy and long-term approach to garden making. It also celebrates the collective work of the gardening team and volunteers, whose efforts have seen more than 100,000 plants introduced in recent years. 

Blending historic stewardship with modern horticulture, the article highlights Burghley as an evolving landscape where heritage, biodiversity and visitor experience come together.

Visitors can explore two distinct yet complementary spaces. The Garden of Surprises, inspired by Elizabethan ideas and historic records, offers a theatrical sequence of enclosed spaces animated by water, playful features and bold architectural planting. Meanwhile, the Sculpture Garden combines contemporary art with sweeping borders, wildflower planting and expansive views across Capability Brown’s Great Lake, creating a setting that is both tranquil and visually striking.

As Burghley’s Gardens continue to evolve, this national recognition celebrates not only their historic significance and horticultural excellence, but also the care, creativity and long-term vision that shape the visitor experience today. With public voting now open for the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award, visitors are encouraged to cast their vote and help celebrate Burghley's historic gardens.