National Trust to plant 80,000 plants in its first forest garden at Shugborough

The gardens are growing at Shugborough Estate, as work is underway to open the National Trust’s first forest garden: ‘Arcadia’.

Sitting within a Grade 1 listed landscape, and Cannock Chase National Landscape, Shugborough’s Arcadia garden has significant environmental ambitions, including increasing carbon capture, providing habitat, and encouraging forest gardening methods in domestic gardens.

A forest garden is designed as an agronomic system of up to seven layers which mimic natural planting and work together to result in an area that is both beautiful and more environmentally sustainable. At Shugborough, the gardening team are planting 80,000 plants, that work symbiotically to create a resilient eco-system which feeds itself, waters itself and fertilises itself.

Senior Gardener Lizzie Pellowe said: “Forest Gardening is an innovative type of gardening. The range of plants reduces competition, enables plants to thrive and builds resilience to pests, disease, and the effects of climate change. Arcadia will be one of the largest of its kind in the country and aims to encourage visitors to try their hand at forest gardening at home.”

Arcadia will be home to a variety of smaller, interconnected gardens including a demonstration garden, medicinal garden and a global garden. Each filled with a variety of plants with diverse uses, environmental benefits and designed to inspire visitors to try forest gardening techniques in their own gardens.

The forest garden will sit in the historic east slip gardens, which make up part of the 8-acre walled garden. Originally built in 1805, the grade II* listed Walled Garden was once a complex of productive gardens, including peach and pineapple houses, mushroom tunnels and orchard.

The gardens were a hub of training, excellence and innovation. Today Shugborough continues this legacy by championing innovative techniques and taking part in apprenticeships and training schemes.

Hayley Mival, General Manager said: “Historically, the gardens at Shugborough have been a centre for innovation, embracing new technologies and techniques, we are thrilled to be continuing this legacy by developing the National Trust’s first forest garden. Opening in Spring 2026, Arcadia will harness the brilliance of plants, using their properties to create a productive yet environmentally important ecosystem, whilst being a peaceful, contemplative and fully accessible sanctuary for visitors to enjoy.”

Visitors will be able to book on to a tour of the gardens from April where they will get a sneak peek into the garden, learn about the ongoing work, and discover more about the benefits of forest gardening.

The project has been part funded by the DEFRA Trees For Climate programme through Forest of Mercia CIC, as well as HSBC UK and funds raised through donations from NT Associations and individual donors.