ON a chilly sunny morning in December, it’s the sheer tranquillity of the Savill Garden at Windsor Great Park that makes the biggest impression.
The sun glints off a series of interlinked lakes, the wildfowl bustle about on the water but there’s little else to disturb the morning calm.
A handful of couples meander along the paths that link the different parts of this 35-acre haven of gardens, woodland and seasonal displays, mainly older visitors taking a close interest in the inspiring range of unusual planting ideas featuring both native and exotic species.
A hidden gem on the eastern edge of the 4,800-acre expanse of Windsor Great Park, a stone’s throw from Englefield Green and Virginia Water Lake, the gardens were commissioned by King George V and established in the 1930s by Eric Savill.
They opened to the public in 1951 and the new Crown Estate visitor centre with its shop and dining areas dates from 2006, acting as a busy focal point for families taking advantage of all the facilities the Great Park has to offer.
But the additional entry price to Savill Garden tends to keep the crowds at bay, and the fact that dogs and picnics are not allowed here may be another deterrent to more boisterous family groups, leaving the gardens to those seeking a quiet stroll in the chilly winter sunshine.
Although the different gardens are planted to make the most of different seasons, it’s a muted palette at this time of year.
In April and May, the rhododendrons, magnolias and woodland perennials of Spring Wood will come to life in a blaze of colour.
In summer it will be the turn of the huge drifts of hydrangeas and flowering shrubs in Summer Wood and the Summer Gardens.
But for now it’s the turn of the Winter Gardens, where colourful dogwood willows and heavily scented Himalayan daphnes help to bring a splash of colour to the landscape.
At this time of year the statuesque gunneras which dominate the wet ground in summer have been cut and placed upside down to create rows of distinctive vegetable umbrellas to repel the winter downpours and insulate against frost.
But if the colours are subdued and some of the branches bare, this is a month when it’s all about textures: the exotic woodland is a treasure trove of rare and beautiful trees and those bark patterns and ridges are as intriguing as they are varied.
Like the more extensive Valley Gardens established on the north side of Virginia Water Lake in the 1940s, Savill Garden is a showcase for plants and trees donated by gardeners from all over the world.
That makes it a magnet for dedicated horticulturalists, but you don’t have to be an expert to appreciate the beauty and variety of the glorious vistas here.
If you book in advance, younger visitors can head for the adjoining hand-crafted wooden adventure playground for a two-hour session exploring the fascinating network of walkways, slides, tunnels and sculptures.
The play area is set over multiple levels with lots of little wooden houses to explore and a mixture of sand, water and music play to keep all ages amused, with carvings of an owl, squirrel and mice to indicate the different abilities the equipment is suitable for.
But like the cafe and restaurant here, a visit doesn’t come cheap: a family of four won’t expect much change out of £50 for a play session, though parking is free for those paying for access to the play area or the garden.
Savill Garden offers a chance to connect with decades of royal history, with Queen Elizabeth II having opened several of the key attractions, a reminder of her lifelong love of Windsor, where the castle was a cherished private retreat during her lifetime, and especially after Philip’s death.
A safe haven during the war years, Windsor Castle served as a family home as well as the centre of her official life, hosting numerous state banquets and diplomatic receptions.
Indeed after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022, 100,000 gathered on The Long Walk to pay their final respects as the funeral cortege brought her home to Windsor on her final journey before a service of committal in St George’s Chapel.
Looking out over those serene ponds and rippling streams that trickle their way down to Virginia Water, it might be an appropriate moment to reflect on the importance of the Windsor landscape not only to Queen Elizabeth II, but its significance in the lives of earlier monarchs too.
The Castle itself is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, continuously inhabited for almost a millennium and encapsulating centuries of royal history, from William the Conqueror’s love of deer hunting to Charles II’s fascination with French architecture and Queen Victoria’s picnics at Virginia Water.
That means there’s plenty to explore beyond the confines of the garden – but there could hardly be a more peaceful starting place for your Windsor adventure.
To visit Savill Garden, book your tickets online up to 9am on the day of your visit.
