Hidden 200 year-old Swiss Garden reveals its rare regency treasures

A little-known Swiss Garden created in the heart of Bedfordshire in the early 1800s has been saved from decay thanks to a grant of £2.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The money has helped fund a vital £3.6m restoration project of its crumbling fairytale-style landscape and buildings.

Looking as though it has stepped off the pages of a European children’s storybook, its quirky buildings, bridges and ornamental structures, act as focal points on a magical journey along woodland paths, through grassy glades and past tumbling water.

Over 25,600 shrubs and 8,400 bulbs have been planted in 53 beds and 340 metres of path laid using 300 tones of gravel.

Lost vistas have been reinstated recreating the scenic windows which opened onto very deliberate stage-set views of buildings, bridges, urns, arches and other garden features as originally intended by its creator, Lord Robert Henley Ongley.

Its makeover has transported the nine-acre garden back to its Regency appearance, dropping an ‘alpine’ landscape into its unlikely Bedfordshire setting close to Biggleswade.

From July 31, 2014, the Swiss Garden is open from 9.30am to 5pm daily and admission is £8.00 for adults and £7.00 for seniors with children under 16 free.

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