Petersfield Physic Garden

With the agreement of John Bowen, who conveyed the site to the Hampshire Historic Buildings Trust in 1987, the Trust decided that the garden should have a 17th-century theme. This was suggested by the fact that John Goodyer and John Worlidge, two prominent men in the botanic and horticultural fields respectively, lived and worked in Petersfield in that century. The garden contains many of the features that would have been found in a 17th-century gentleman's garden. All the plants, shrubs and trees featured in the garden were known in England in that time. The title ‘Physic Garden' was stipulated by John Bowen and the garden contains nearly 100 species of herbs set out in geometrical beds.

The garden is just over a third of an acre in extent, with a meeting room and office at the south end. It is enclosed by walls on three sides. The walls are medieval in origin. The east wall shows variations in height over its length. Apart from the herb beds that occupy a third of the garden area, other features include a knot garden, a topiary area of clipped yew, and box leading to an orchard and wild flower area.

Wooden arches bearing roses and hops separate the orchard from the flower and vegetable beds. Further north are the herb beds in a geometric pattern and the north wall has examples of vines and fig trees. Outside the wall are two magnificent examples of Metasequoia trees (M. glypostroboides, Dawn Redwoods), which belong to the Physic Garden.

The garden is managed by the Friends of the Physic Garden on behalf of the Hampshire Gardens Trust and is open to the public, free of charge, daily apart from Christmas.