Since the 1970s Wentworth Castle Gardens has played an active part in the conservation of three major plant collections, species Rhododendron, hybrid x Williamsii Camellia and species Magnolia. These national collections are recognised by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens and are firmly established as one of the highlights of Wentworth.

The species Rhododendron are represented at Wentworth by no fewer than 300 different wild species and naturally-occurring forms. All of these flower from very early in the Winter to high Summer and they are amongst the glories of the Gardens.

When restoration started in 2004, it was apparent that very little was flowering because of the dense shade in the Garden. Drastic, though very carefully considered clearance was essential if the National Collections were to survive. During the Winter of 2005-6 our team of gardeners undertook a Herculean task. Hundreds of rhododendron species were moved and replanted in the informal wilderness. Remarkably, after months of hard work, very little was lost and the Rhododendron collection has settled in and will become more rewarding as the years go by.

The collection contains species that were brought into this country by some of the great plant collectors, including E H Wilson, who left Liverpool in 1899, for the first of his 6 trips to China, before making further visits to Japan and Korea. Amongst the many plants collected by Wilson were Davidia involucrate (which can be found in the Gardens at Wentworth) and the rare and beautiful Rhododendron morii, from Taiwan.

From 1904, George Forrest made seven collecting trips to the Yunnan. He introduced so many Rhododendron species that British gardens were never the same again. Amongst the finest is R. fulvum, with cinnamon-coloured indumentum on the under-side of handsome leaves, and deep rose flowers.

Frank Kingdon-Ward similarly made numerous plant collecting visits to China, Tibet and the Himalayas. The magnificent, large, R. macabeanum, with grey-felted leaves and pale yellow flowers, was introduced by him in 1928.

Between the Union Jack Gardens and travelling up the Broad Avenue, is the Middle Garden and Triangle. Although the original layout was created in the 18th century nearly all the planting here is from the late 19th century and early 20th century In particular, you will find that Wentworth has one of the best collections of hardy hybrid rhododendrons of this period in the country, including several unique to these Gardens.

Hardy-hybrid Rhododendron were bred by Victorian nurserymen, who competed for the hardiest plants and the most brilliant and beautiful flowers. They are especially favoured in the North of England, as they flower later in the season than most of the introduced species Rhododendron, ensuring that their beautiful display is more likely to survive late frosts. At the top of Broad Avenue, there is a particularly fine example of the Victorian hybrid, 'Cunningham's Blush'