Pocklington in East Yorkshire is a great little market town. As well as a pleasant town centre with good shops, eateries and an excellent arts centre, it is surrounded by great countryside. There is easy access to the hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Wolds, and abundant wildlife along the Pocklington Canal (see photos of the Pocklington Canal in the post Around My Yorkshire Home).
Pocklington is also home to the Burnby Hall gardens, which contain a National Collection of Water Lilies.
The Lakes
Over a hundred varieties of water lilies are grown in two ornamental lakes in Burnby Hall’s gardens. There are paths around the lakes, and plenty of benches from which you can view the water lilies which flower in the summer months.
(Note – the photos used in this article are from a series of visits in different seasons.)
View of Burnby Hall across the Upper Lake
Lower lake in spring
Water lilies flowering in summer
A shady bench near the Lower Lake
Pink water lilies in summer
Full bloom
The lakes are also teeming with fish, some of them huge, and they just love to be fed! You can purchase bags of food in the shop at the entrance to the gardens.
Fish at the edge of the lake waiting to be fed
Moorhens nest on the lakes, and in the summer their chicks can usually be seen. Ducks are often present, and herons and kingfishers are also sometimes seen.
The Gardens
There is more to Burnby Hall than just the lakes. In spring and summer there is colour everywhere, with beautifully kept flower beds and laid out gardens set amongst trees. Even in winter there is colour, provided by some stunning heather displays.
There are plenty of benches and picnic spots where you can relax and enjoy the lovely surroundings.
Gardens in spring
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A well-placed bench
Summer flower beds
A hot, dry summer
Heather display early in the year
The Stumpery
The gardens are constantly changing. A rock garden with a stream and wire sculptures is currently a work in progress. Another recent addition is the stumpery in the woodland. A stumpery is a garden based on a collection of cut tree stumps. The stumps provide excellent habitats for many insects, birds, lichens and ferns, and the garden will continue to evolve.
The new Stumpery in March
The Stumpery in June
There are many other interesting and quirky features, including a giant redwood tree stump, a bug hotel in the Stumpery, various sculptures scattered around the grounds and an attractive small aviary.
The Aviary
If you would like to spend a little time in a peaceful haven surrounded by beautiful gardens, it is definitely worth seeking out Burnby Hall and its lakes.
Practicalities
Burnby Hall gardens are situated close to the centre of Pocklington.
There is a gift shop, plant sales, and a good cafe with indoor and outside seating. Situated in the same building as the cafe there is also the very interesting Stewart Museum dedicated to Major Percy Stewart, who lived at Burnby Hall in the early 1900s. Major Stewart and his wife travelled and explored extensively, and the museum contains many fascinating objects collected during these travels.
The cafe and Stewart Museum
For opening times, admission prices and information about events see burnbyhallgardens.com.
Burnby Hall is a Royal Horticultural Society partner garden. If you are an RHS member you can enjoy free entry in April, May and June. Read about membership here.
If you would like to stay in the area, see these pages for accommodation in East Yorkshire and nearby York.
For more places to visit in Yorkshire we recommend the Rough Guide to Yorkshire.
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