The Victorian Flower Garden was formerly known as the Secret Garden, due to its screening hedges. 

In the 18th century, this area was laid out as a bowling green, framed by the strong geometry of a yew hedge. The conceit of arriving at a level garden, after climbing up the steep hill of Broad Avenue, must have appealed to many visitors, and advantage was taken of this in the 19th century, with the introduction of an elaborate display garden.

Planting is changed twice annually using bedding plants to create a spectacular display of colour and a form, with an original urn as a centre-piece. The golden yews are to be pruned to reduce their size and restore them back to topiary shapes.

There are observation platforms at either end of the garden from which spectacular views of the surrounding treescape and rhododendrons at flowering time may be had. The large yews, pines and hollies provide shelter and protection from cold winds and create a favourable micro-climate. This enables us to grow a range of shrubs such as rhododendron falconeri and its forms, which would be too tender for other sites in the north of England.