New plants, new animals, and so much Easter fun this month at The Walled Garden.

Spring has finally arrived, and April is, so far, treating us to some glorious sunshine in Dorset (with a small April shower but the outlook is good!). The garden is full of new life, and we’re excited to share all the exciting developments happening at The Walled Garden here in Moreton.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who booked in for our special Mother’s Day weekend in The Dovecote Café last weekend. With afternoon teas and Sunday roasts, we welcome many happy visitors who were treating mum to something special, and there was a wonderful atmosphere in the café all weekend. Thank you!

Recent visitors will have noticed when walking along the stream and the bog garden that so many plants all starting to make themselves known as they appear out of the ground. We have little signs in place for pretty much everything we’ve planted, so this will help keep you informed about what’s growing in our beds and borders.

Also, if you’re quick, there’s still time to stop by for the perfect photo op with our ornamental cherry tree. Currently taking centre stage just opposite the pavilion, the flowers are not around for long, and pictures do not do it justice!

The Garden team has been hard at work, creating a new border outside the rose garden, packed with vibrant colours that will add new interest in the summer months too. We’ve planted an array of flowers, including salvias, bearded iris, and lupins, which will provide a fantastic display for all to enjoy. Head Gardener Martin Mellersh said:

“We had to bring in the digger to help us build our new border. It took a few days to complete, but we’re confident that the selection of flowers we’ve chosen will catch the eye of our visitors and add a real pop of vibrancy to the gardens.”

Rob, from the garden team, digging in!

As part of our 2025 plans, we’re also thrilled to announce the opening of our revamped plant sales area. Situated at the entrance to The Walled Garden near the Dovecote Café, this new space is dedicated to plants and flowers available for visitors to purchase.

“Building the new plant sales area has been our biggest job over the last month. While we’ve always had an area near the garden shop, this new space offers a more immersive experience for our visitors.” – Martin

the new plant sales area

(don’t tell anyone, but there’s plenty of sale items too, so grab them before they’re gone!)

A Busy Spring for Our Animals

Springtime isn’t just about plants; our animals have been keeping us just as busy! Regular visitors and followers of our social media pages will have seen the arrival of two wonderful geese, named Iceman and Maverick. These lively birds have become a popular sight around the gardens, often spotted following Chrissy, our Animal Care Technician, and bringing smiles to visitors young and old… they also had fun with another visitor this week! The Easter bunny dropped in to make sure was prepped for the big holiday.

We’ve also welcomed two young female Kunekune pigs into our animal family. We also asked followers on social media to suggest names, and we’re excited to confirm that after some time to think, and some amazing suggestions (many of which had us laughing!), Chrissy has chosen the names Carrot and Swede. Thank you to Kirsty Runyard for the names!

They’re settling into their new home in The Walled Garden wonderfully. Be sure to pop by to meet them on your next visit.

our two new piggies!

In case you missed it – here’s the video of them arriving!

Our two youngest rabbits, Honey and Waffle, have also moved into their new enclosure. Now that they’re old enough to be on public display, they’ve been busy exploring their new home and nibbling on the fresh grass. Chrissy, our Animal Care Technician, says:

“It’s been all go in the animal area recently! We’ve still had more painting to do, but of course we the recent highlight was welcoming the Kunekune pigs just in time for the Easter season, and I’m really happy with how quickly they’ve settled in. We’re already seeing so much personality from them! Every pen has something to see, so we encourage all visitors to explore the animal area and get to know our residents if they’re stopping by during the holiday.”

What’s on?

The Easter holidays are here (well, tomorrow at time of writing!) and there’s so many reasons to visit us here in Dorset for the perfect day out.

The Easter Trail is back! From 5th April through to 21st April, families are invited to join in the fun. For just £3, you can purchase a map, answer the questions, and hunt for eggs hidden around the garden to solve the mystery word. Don’t worry if you get stuck – every map wins a prize, so there’s something for everyone! Every map also includes a colouring competition for the little explorers.

Bug and Animal experiences are also taking place on select dates. Enjoy an educational and hands-on meeting with our group of fabulous mini beasts such as the Ghost Mantis, Katydids, Stick Insects, Cockroaches and more. PLUS, you’ll meet the likes of Mishu and Sisu our Bearded Dragons and The Boss, our Bosc Monitor Lizard and more. Tickets are limited and always sell out, so we fully encourage booking early so you don’t miss out!

In addition to the Easter Trail, we’ll also be selling goat and chicken feed bags throughout the holidays. Pick up a bag from our garden shop and treat our furry and feathered friends to a tasty snack.

Speaking of snacks, the café, as always will be serving snacks, main meals, and sweet treats every day, so if you’re looking to refuel after the trail, we’ve got you covered.

Your entry fee helps us grow!

From 1st April, we introduced an entrance fee to the gardens for all adults aged 18 and up. For £3 per person, you will gain access to the gardens, play park and animal area. Under 18s are FREE – and access to the Dovecote Café does not require an entry fee.

For our regular visitors, we also have the option of a Season Ticket for £10.50, which will cover you for unlimited visits during the season. For more information on the new entrance fee and the Season Ticket click here.

We really hope you’ll stop by this Easter if you’re out and about in Dorset. There’s something for everyone at The Walled Garden, we have free parking, and dogs on leads are welcome.