Since 2006, there has been a tranquil and impressive garden covering 4 acres at the Penny Brohn site in Pill, Somerset.
Our gardens are a big part of what we do at our National Centre; giving people who visit them the chance to explore nature, find peace and provide a place to relax despite the stress and anxiety they may be experiencing. Sadly, they are currently closed to visitors because of COVID-19 but we hope to open them again soon.
Planned and maintained purely by our amazing volunteers, the garden design has evolved and is of particular horticultural interest for several reasons such as the collection of rare trees, the apiary and vegetable garden.
Follow this timeline to trace the evolution of the Penny Brohn Garden.
You can also view our Interactive Garden Tour for a more detailed explanation of places around the garden and grounds.
Four Seasons
The gardens at our National Centre have been looking spectacular this year. Take a look behind door 23.
Our gardens in spring 2021
As we all continue to live life from our homes; working, learning, exercising and building our own little sanctuaries, that other sanctuary to many, the Penny Brohn UK garden, continues..Read more
History of the Penny Brohn UK Garden
Pill has a rich and fascinating history connected with our beautiful National Centre and grounds. Travel back in time to learn it's history here.
The wonderful wildlife spotted
Take a glimpse at the garden wildlife from a safe distance at home, our garden is blooming with many flowers. But now the wildlife spotted are starting to call this..Read more
Summer is taking over our beautiful garden
With all this sunshine over the past couple of weeks, the Penny Brohn UK garden is blossoming to brighten your June Through this uncertain time, it is so lovely to..Read more
April showers bring May flowers
Find out the flowers blooming throughout the month May in our Penny Brohn UK garden, or flowers you should be on the look out to plant in your home.
Visualising nature for mindfulness
Be close to nature, at peace with your mind and take your mind away from these unsettling times with a wander in our interactive garden.
Secateurs & snowdrops
As always there were plenty of jobs to be found around the Penny Brohn UK garden but this week a nice surprise came in the form of repaired secateurs.
Good bye Ciara, hello Dennis!
Clearing up the garden after Storm Ciara and preparing for another weekend of high-winds with Storm Dennis on the way!
Red letters, blue hearts
The bothy is nearly in place and we have joined the Blue campaign for promoting the rewilding of gardens across the UK. Find our more...
Snowdrop splendour!
A beautiful spread of daffodils and snowdrops light up the lawn, whilst our dedicated gardeners tackle a resistant strawberry tree!
Another year over and the garden is prepped for New Year!
Another year over and the garden team have everything prepped for New Year. Here are just a few of their highlights from 2019.
Midsummer Madness
What a treat to be in the Penny Brohn garden on a Midsummer’s Day, when the weather is behaving in an appropriate way for once!
Badgers and beauty in the garden
Last week, we were very excited to capture some fantastic images and videos of a fox and two badgers frolicking in the big pile of meadow grass cuttings.
Blooming beautiful in the garden
There is lots to admire in Penny Brohn's garden! It is blooming and coming to life with summer fast-approaching. Read our latest update from Liz Moore.
Beekeeper duties as the seasons slip by
The days slip by followed by the weeks, and then the seasons slip by, but where oh where are they all going apart from leaving us behind? We’re led to..Read more
The changing of seasons
No picturesque snowscapes to admire this morning... Read our latest update from Liz Moore, about the changing seasons in the Penny Brohn gardens.
Bees can be snuggly too
It's cold outside but the bees are 'flying'. Honeybees don’t hibernate, but they’ll ‘snuggle’ up together much like penguins do on the ice.
New interactive garden map launched
We have teamed up with digital mapping company, Nautoguide to develop an interactive journey around the gardens at our National Centre.
Rainbow Warriors in the garden
It may be the last day of November but, with nice splashes of colour here and there, the garden still doesn’t look too wintry. Find out what our garden team have been up to this week.
What lies ahead for our honeybees
As the year closes for the summer honeybees, the winter bees do a bit of housekeeping; looking after the Queen and getting rid of waste.
The scents of Bright’s Patch
Garden Volunteer, Liz Moore explains why her favourite thing in the gardens recently is Bright’s Patch.
A spacious garden
A blog, written by Garden Volunteer, Christine Derrick on the peace, the spaciousness and maturity of the Penny Brohn UK National Centre gardens.
Gardening in winter
The benefits of gardening are plentiful, to both our physical and mental health. Find out more about gardening in winter behind door 9.
School holidays sees junior garden team on board
It's the school holidays and our junior garden team members are back to help us weed and water!
Keeping up the colour palette
Each area of the garden has its own palette of colour in keeping with how it is used. Find out more about our thematic gardens.
Mandala Installed in National Centre grounds
Mysterious mandala appears in National Centre grounds.
Another successful open day
We had a great Garden Open Day this month. Each week, more colour can be found in all areas of the garden so it's worth taking a look.
We have a Champion tree
January has brought the exciting news that our lovely old Ginkgo tree is the Somerset Champion for girth.
November blossoms
The autumn colours were amazing in the gardens this year. From the red and yellow trees to the late blooming flowers, see what treats our garden bestowed upon us this year.
September in the garden
September saw some new developments to our grounds - and much seasonal work. A Cedar Garden was planted 4 years ago and now needs careful rejuvenating.
Time to stand (or sit) and stare…
Another new little oasis is emerging in the garden, where our much-loved, aged, cedar tree once stood. You can now stand and take in the view to Abbots Leigh, Leigh..Read more
A Royal Visit to our garden
We had a royal visit from our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales on 26th July, during which he planted a new Atlantic Blue Cedar to further maintain the garden.
Thank you to our Garden Volunteers
It's Volunteers Week and today we are saying thank you for the hard work that our garden volunteers do to keep our grounds a serene place for our visitors.
Rebuilding our composting area
April has been a busy, productive month for the volunteer gardening team. The composting area has been totally redesigned and in the rebuilding we will soon have newly planted areas,..Read more
Sounds and Sights: Penny Brohn Garden
Last night's frost combined with this morning's glorious sunshine has created a lovely crisp morning at the National Centre. Hear its sights and sounds.
Looking Good in Autumn
Our late flowering plants continue to provide lots of colour this Autumn, especially in the Cedar Garden with it's distinct feel and look.
Bees and Flowers
The surprise for us today was a visiting swarm of bees looking for a new home. They had settled on a small conifer tree in our gardens.
Surprises in the garden
Despite rather chilly weather, the garden is bursting into new growth and colour. Spring bedding is over and the newly planted summer bedding is in place.
Swing Bench Restored
The first signs of summer as our 2 swing seats reappear in the gardens,paths are mown through the Wildflower Meadow, and raised beds prepared.