Winter’s over, spring has sprung and Holdenby is opening again every Saturday & Sunday from April 2nd to the end of September – except for Easter, when it is open Easter Sunday & Monday.

You might think a house and garden as old and historic as Holdenby (getting on for 440 years old) is all about conservation and in many senses it is, but to give our visitors something new to see and enjoy every year, we have to change too.

In the gardens, you will still see our beautiful Elizabethan Pond, Kitchen Gardens, the Silver Border and King Charles’ Walk as well as the historic remains of the Palace Gardens.

However, this winter, under the direction of the award winning designer, Rupert Golby, we have begun the transformation of our Tous Tous Fragrant Border into a Fragrant Walk.

Tired old shrubs have been moved or removed and replaced, the process of installing four fragrant rose arches, formal yews and base planting of hydrangeas is under way. As in all garden things, the process is a gradual one but the final end result, we believe, will be stunning.

In the Icarus Falconry centre, there’s exciting new things to enjoy too. The magnificent collection of Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Owls and Vultures will still be there to see in the Centre and to witness flying in the Gardens.

This year they will be joined by our nascent new English wildlife wing, where you can meet Roxy the Fox, Norma the hedgehog along with Neil & Neon the rather charming rats as well as other smaller but equally fascinating members of our native English fauna. As ever, our friendly staff will be there to explain all about them.

Finally, for the children, for the first time this year, we will be providing fun themed activity packs, the first one based around Norma, the Hedgehog.

Whatever your age, we can’t wait to see you and show you what’s new at Holdenby…as well as what is so beautifully old.