Abbotsbury Swannery 
About Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
History of the Gardens
The history of Abbotsbury is tied closely with the creation of the monastery that once dominated the village and the Fox-Strangways family. In 1541, the abbey lands were leased to Sir Giles Strangways, who converted part of the old monastery into a mansion.
The above photo featured in Country Life magazine in 1899 and is of the top pond.
The Gardens Today
After the great storm of 1990, a major restoration project has been underway. Many new exotic and unusual flowers have been introduced to this fabulous Dorset Garden. The Gardens is currently curated in a way to provide the visitors with an immersive subtropical garden experience.
The Garden is a mixture of formal and informal flowers, world famous for it’s Camellia groves and Magnolias. Noted in Dorset for its Rhododendron and Hydrangea collections and the charming Victorian Garden.
Christmas Shop
To celebrate the forthcming season, the Christmas Shop has a beautiful range of decorations and gift ideas.
This year, one of the highlights is the Gisela Graham Gruffalo and friends hanging decorations and the Roger la Borde advent calenders.
The Gift Shop is free entry and open during winter hours and Illuminate evenings.
Sitting Spiritually Swing Seats
Local company Sitting Spiritually provide us with three beautiful swing seats, two on the West Lawn and one with a pergola in the Old Orchard. Take the weight off your feet and relax for a few minutes on these hand-crafted solid wood pieces of garden furniture, all made within five miles of their base in Lyme Regis.
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