The Lyde Garden is a sunken aquatic garden in Bledlow, Buckinghamshire, created by Lord Carrington. It was built in a location originally occupied by watercress beds, fed by natural springs that rise in a wooded ravine near the village church. Over time what had become overgrown and wild was transformed in the 1980s into a carefully planted naturalistic landscape — blending formal aquatic planting (with hostas, gunnera, primulas, astilbes) with woodland, walkways and water features — in the style of Robinsonian wild gardens.
The garden is serene, lush, and intimate. You’ll find shady banks, damp-loving plants, springs, wooden paths, small bridges, and plenty of spots to soak up nature. It feels like a hidden oasis; while wild in feeling, its design is very considered. It’s maintained privately by the Carrington Estate. Opposite the garden sits The Manor House, their family seat. While The Lyde Garden is not huge, its combination of aquatic plantings, woodland, and water features makes it striking, especially when light or seasons change.
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