The Eltham Palace gardens are a rare and very fine example of 1930s garden design. They also incorporate elements of the medieval palace, which adds a further intriguing dimension.
- The sunken rose garden featuring early hybrid tea and hybrid musk varieties from the 1930s leads onto a series of garden rooms created by evergreen shrubs planted with winter flowering shrubs under planted with spring flowering bulbs and hellebores.
- Seasonal bedding schemes planted in the terraced beds.
- The Westmorland limestone rockery, with a recently restored cascade, has been planted with a tapestry of ground hugging plants.
- A newly planted 120m long mixed border and White Wood designed by Isabelle Van Groeningen, as part of the English Heritage Contemporary Heritage Garden initiative, opened summer 2000.
- The moat is planted with water lilies and stocked with carp.
- Eltham has extensive tree and shrub plantings making the site a plantsman's paradise.
- The southern moat bank is planted with a range of naturalised spring bulbs.
- Dramatic views over London can be seen from this green oasis.
- The formal planting scheme designed by John Watkins for the Triangular Garden uses thyme, Salvia and Kniphofia. Shown here at different times of the year.
Large specimens of Ligustrum lucidum, Poncirus trifoliata (a hardy citrus relative) and the spring flowering Stachyrus praecox. Other trees include the cut leaf beech Fagus sylvatica 'Laciniata' and large stately London Planes(Platanus x hispanica) and a beautiful example of the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo.
Common lizards are resident on the boundary wall and grass snakes have been known to use the site. Frogs, toads, smooth and palmate newts can also be seen.
Pipistrelle bats are known to roost on the site and other species, including Noctule's, feed over the site.
The Nationally Scarce stag beetle can also be found on site. For more information on endangered wildlife and habitats visit then Natural England web page.
