Securing the future of the garden and its collections
The garden was generously donated by Peter and Caroline Roberts to The Hutts Foundation, created to protect and preserve this unique landscape.
Plant Conservation
Promoting the cultivation and protection of rare and endangered plant species from around the world.
Arts & Sculpture
Encouraging the use of sculpture within natural and cultivated landscapes to enhance visual experience.
Environmental Care
Supporting environmental protection and the ongoing improvement through responsible management.
Public Education
Advancing public knowledge in horticulture, conservation, and garden design through learning and engagement.
Himalayan Gardens History
From woodland beginnings to a unique Himalayan landscape
The Hutts, meaning “Head of the Valley,” is a 45-acre woodland garden created by Peter and Caroline Roberts. When they acquired the property in 1996, much of the land consisted of coppiced hazel woodland affected by Japanese Knotweed, alongside dense areas of Sitka Spruce.
Inspired by early rhododendron plantings and visits to renowned gardens, Peter began transforming the landscape with guidance from expert Alan Clark, who recognised its potential for Himalayan-style planting. Over time, the collection expanded to include rare and unusual species, supported by plant hunting in the Sino-Himalayan region.
Today, the garden is home to nearly 20,000 plants, including extensive collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias, as well as a 20-acre arboretum, making it one of the most significant collections in the North.
Patrons
“I think that the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park sounds like a slice of paradise, and my Kashmiri-born heart jumps with joy to think of its existence. Gardens are the greatest healers on earth, and as our stressful anxious lives tie us up in knots we may turn to the sweet silence of the great green earth for solace. Paradise is the old word for a walled garden: safe from the burning sun and whipping winds, with water flowing, shady trees and the scent of flowers. The Hutts Foundation has generously given us the key to the door; just turn that key, and find happiness and peace”
