Flint Bridges in Spring Garden at West Dean

Spring Gardens and Pond

The Spring Garden is a peaceful haven, full of secret walkways, flint bridges and hidden benches to sit a while away an afternoon watching some ducklings on the river.

The Spring Garden was redeveloped over a period of years with West Dean gardeners adding a pond. The rustic summerhouse at the westerly end was restored to its early 19th century glory with moss walls, seaweed decorations, heather ceiling and thatched roof. It makes a perfect spot for a quiet rest.

Parts of this area date back to the Regency period, including a series of flint bridges. The laburnum and ivy tunnel makes a shady walkway in the summer sunshine.

Tree Sculptures

Two fibreglass tree sculptures, created by Edward James can be found in the west of the Spring Gardens. According to the head gardener at the time, Ivan Hicks, Edward wanted to perpetuate trees that had to be felled from disease and old age by encapsulating the standing timber in fibreglass. Sculptor Ralph Burton was commissioned to undertake the work on the two trees in 1972 and 1974. The timber has since rotted, leaving the fibreglass shells, forming surrealist tree sculptures around the original trunks.

Gallery

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    Surrealist tree in the Spring Garden at West Dean
    Surrealist tree in the Spring Garden
    Weir in Spring at West Dean Gardens West Sussex
    The River Lavant flowing through West Dean Gardens
    River Lavant in the Spring Garden at West Dean
    River Lavant in the Spring Garden at West Dean
    Dogwoods in winter At West Dean Gardens
    Dogwoods in winter At West Dean Gardens
    Pond at West Dean Gardens
    Take a stroll up to the pond in the Spring Garden
    Bright autumn colour leaves at West Dean Spring Gardens near Chichester
    A bright walk through the Spring Garden in October
    Succulent beds at West Dean Gardens
    Succulents in the Spring Garden
    Jim Buckland building flint bridge at West Dean Gardens
    Jim Buckland, Gardens Manager, building a flint bridge at West Dean Gardens

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