Autumn colours make a visit to Staffordshire’s award-winning Trentham Gardens a ‘golden’ experience every year thanks to a mixture of swathes of coloured grasses and traditional autumnal leaf colours.
 

But this year’s hot sunshine and late Indian summer combined with even more autumn foliage mean that those who like to get out to enjoy the colours of autumn are in for a seasonal treat at Trentham.
 

Boasting Capability Brown parkland and mile-long lake and historic woodland, as well as the extensive gardens, The Trentham Estate offers a golden show for visitors in late October and throughout the month of November.
 

Said Head of Garden and Estate, Michael Walker: “While many places may lay claim to autumn leaves, unique to Trentham Gardens are the Rivers of Grass, a breathtaking prairie garden landscape of grasses and vast herbaceous perennials designed by Dutch gardening guru, and Chelsea gold-medal winner, Piet Oudolf.
 

“Come autumn, the swathes of mellow tinted grasses offer a staggering impact, complementing the vast perennial displays throughout the garden. A highly desirable collection of Japanese Cherries was also introduced to the western gardens, which deliver yet more wonderful autumnal colour to the gardens.”
 

As well as the gardens, Trentham also boasts Capability Brown’s iconic mile-long lake, hanging Oak woods and parkland, children’s adventure play area and the UK’s first Barefoot Walk.
 

More trees, chosen especially for their autumn colour, have been added to enhance the lakeside woodland walk, including 150-plus North American trees (Birch, Tulip Trees, Sugar Maples, Liquid Amber, Jugulans and Nyssa), which were planted especially for their seasonal colours. 
 

Added Mr Walker: “Whilst we have added some new tree plantings, one of the great attractions of Trentham at this time of year are the beautiful autumnal colours of the mature Oaks and other trees reflected in the lake – with the wonderful backdrop of Kings Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which Capability Brown included in his landscape.
 

“Also at the heart of Trentham’s autumnal charm are the iconic perennial plantings of Chelsea gold medalist Tom Stuart-Smith and fellow garden designer Piet Oudolf, who, along with Trentham’s own team, led the dramatic resurrection of these historic gardens. As well as providing a very strong look during autumn, these perennials continue to offer rich and colourful displays while the flowers slowly fade and the foliage tints.”
 

And even as the autumn colours fade, Trentham’s Winter Gardens offer visitors bracing walks along the lakeside, through the Italian Gardens or the sweeping parkland, with any frost and snow creating a picture-perfect scene - perfectly complimenting the Winter Ice Rink, which makes its return in November.
 

During the winter months, beautiful seed heads with strong structure and texture are like glistening frosty jewels. This stunning planting is left standing proud until January. Fountains are also specially illuminated to add even more sparkle to the winter gardens.
 

Offering one of the country’s most diverse days out, the 725-acre Trentham Estate boasts gardens, village shopping, Garden Centre, the remarkable Monkey Forest and high ropes adventure course Aerial Extreme.
 

Visitors can also enjoy an autumnal treat at Trentham for less by downloading and printing an ‘Autumn Hints and Tints’ 2-for-1 voucher from Cheshire Gardens of Distinction by clicking on www.trentham.co.uk/the-trentham-estate/best-value-visits. Valid until 30 November 2013.

Full details of all attractions, opening times and events can be found at www.trentham.co.uk

For all media information, photo-opportunities and images, please contact:

Amanda Dawson

Tel: 01782 657341

E-mail: adawson@trentham.co.uk