Nymans, National Trust, West Sussex

A garden lovers' home for all seasons, Nyman's is a National Trust property with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.

In the late 1800s Ludwig Messel bought the Nymans Estate in the Sussex High Weald to make a dream family house. Inspired by the wooded surroundings he created a garden with plants collected from around the world. Here this creative family entertained friends and family, enjoyed relaxing, playing and picnicking in the garden and woods. Today it is still a garden lovers' home - a place to relax all year round and enjoy a peaceful country garden.

The house was partially destroyed by fire in 1947 and the romantic ruins of a fairytale gothic mansion remain. We are one of the National Trust's most eco- friendly properties and we aim to inspire a more sustainable way of living.

There is a large shop and plant centre with our special collection of plants grown on site, a cafe offering a choice of seasonal food made by us, and a Grab & Go kiosk in the tea garden.

Every day there are guided walks and talks in the garden and woods, a small gallery in the house with changing exhibitions for every season, a secondhand bookshop, shop tastings and mobility tours of the garden and woods.

For children there are natural play trails, geocaching in the garden and woods, pick up and go activities and school holiday trails.

Dog owners: Dogs are welcome in the woodland only and must be kept on leads during the bird nesting season 1 March - 31 July.

See website for details