Sizergh Castle was built in the 12th century. The Strickland family has lived in this castle and its beautiful garden estate for the past 750 years. The style of the castle is a Tudor Manor, built around a 14th century pele tower, which was used for protection against the Scots during their raids on England. The whole estate is 1600 acres, which includes six farms and eight woodland areas.
The rock garden at Sizergh Castle is an award winning garden. It is the largest limestone rock garden in the National Trust, featuring a variety of interesting plants. It includes part of the National Collection of hardy ferns. Other prominent plants used within the rock garden are cultivars of Japanese maple including Acer palmatum var. dissectum. The scarlet-red and light green foliage of these plants provide bold displays amongst the lower growing plants of the rock garden.
- ABOVE: The hardy fern collection is notable, because within the garden estate there are over 25 species and many varieties of hardy ferns. There are Ostrich Ferns and Cinnamon Ferns and many variations in leaf form. England offers the perfect balance between cool and moist temperatures, which allow for optimum growth.
- ABOVE: The Sizergh orchard was developed within the last 10 years. It is part of a national collection of historic apples and particularly features Lancastrian varieties. One particular cultivar is known as the 'Bloody Plowman', partly because of its bright red skin, but also because the man who first grew it was beheaded. The orchard floor is managed as a wildflower meadow.
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