Italian Gardens: The Next Chapter
Discover the story behind the next chapter of Trentham’s Italian Garden, created in collaboration with Tom Stuart-Smith.
The Italian Gardens remain open during the transformation
While this exciting transformation takes place, the Italian Gardens remain open for visitors to enjoy.
The work is being carried out in phases, allowing you to experience the garden as it evolves and changes throughout the seasons.
The work is being carried out in phases, allowing you to experience the garden as it evolves and changes throughout the seasons.
A bold new chapter for the Italian Garden
A new planting vision for the Italian Garden will celebrate colour, resilience and longevity.
Working with Tom Stuart-Smith, we are reimagining the Italian Garden through a new approach to planting. Over the coming years, the garden will be replanted with a diverse selection of long-lived perennials, carefully chosen to thrive in our changing climate and withstand periods of drier summers and wetter winters.
The journey so far
A glimpse behind the scenes as the Italian Garden begins to take shape.
Captured in July 2026, these images show the progress made so far as work continues across Trentham’s historic Italian Garden. From the refreshed structure and prepared planting areas to the first stages of the new landscape emerging, each phase brings the vision for a more resilient and vibrant garden closer to life.
The Next Chapter at Trentham: A Phase Two Update
Join Head Gardener Luke as he shares what’s been happening behind the scenes and how the project is progressing.
The transformation in phases
This ambitious transformation will take place over several phases, carefully preparing the garden for a new generation of planting.
Phase One: Preparing the ground
Creating the foundations for a more resilient garden.
Since spring 2025, we have carefully prepared the first section of the Italian Garden by removing the existing planting, excavating the beds and introducing a sand and grit growing medium. This creates the ideal conditions for plants to establish strong root systems and thrive in changing conditions.
12,000 plants bring Phase One to life
A major milestone as the first stage of planting begins to take shape.
In October 2025, 12,000 plants arrived at Trentham ready to begin their journey in the Italian Garden. Using Tom Stuart-Smith’s planting design, each plant was carefully positioned to create a landscape full of colour, texture and seasonal interest.
Phase Two: Continuing the transformation
The next stage of planting brings a further 25,000 plants to the Italian Garden.
Building on what we learned from Phase One, the central section of the garden has been prepared using the same sand and grit approach. More than 1,400 tonnes of material have been introduced to create the foundations for the next stage of resilient planting.
A new way of planting
Building resilience from the ground up with a carefully considered growing environment.
The plants are being established in a 50:50 mix of sand and coarse grit, creating a free-draining, low-nutrient growing medium. This encourages deeper root growth, improves drainage during wetter periods and helps reduce the need for watering during dry spells.
Following the success of Phase One, this approach continues to demonstrate how thoughtful planting and preparation can help create gardens that are better adapted to future conditions.
See the transformation for yourself
Visit Trentham and see the Italian Gardens’ transformation as it happens. Discover the new planting, evolving design and careful restoration work bringing a fresh chapter to this historic landscape.
Experience the changes first-hand and see how the gardens continue to develop over time.
Plan your visitFrom the Head Gardener
Step behind the scenes with Luke and discover the stories shaping Trentham’s gardens.
From exciting new developments and seasonal highlights to the challenges and successes of gardening at Trentham, Luke shares his latest insights and updates from across the gardens.
Read Luke's latest blog
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