Eastnor and me: Tom Stuart-Smith OBE

05 February 2025

The landscape architect and designer on his 30-year journey restoring the castle’s historic grounds

Tom Stuart-Smith OBE, the renowned English landscape architect and garden designer, specialises in a unique blend of naturalism and modernity when it comes to his work – which has seen him transform everything from expansive public parks to intimate private gardens. His award-winning designs at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where his studio has earned nine gold medals and three “Best in Show” titles, are a testament to his skill. Yet one of his most profound projects lies in his long-term involvement with Eastnor Castle, a relationship that has evolved over 30 years. Yes, we might be slightly biased, but his sage advice over three decades has shaped the grounds to be what you know and love today.

    

When Stuart-Smith first visited Eastnor in the early 1990s, the grounds had fallen into a slight state of disrepair. The vision was clear: to restore the historical landscape while addressing the pressing ecological challenges it faced. ‘We got a grant to prepare a historic landscape restoration plan,’ he explains. ‘We focused on restoring the broad outlines of the landscape to reflect its peak in the late 19th century.’

However, the work that followed was far from just a historical recreation. The landscape has suffered from overgrown woodlands and particularly troublesome honey fungus that threatened plant and tree health. ‘I do remember being told by a pessimistic adviser that there was no point in planting anything at Eastnor because everything would die of honey fungus,’ Stuart-Smith recalls. ‘While a few things have died over the years, most have grown.’

One of the standout features of Stuart-Smith’s vision for Eastnor has been his handling of its magnificent trees. He remembers the first time he saw the estate: ‘I was astonished by the scale of the place, but especially by the size of the trees. The setting and the trees are what make Eastnor so extraordinary.’ His immediate connection to the site was deepened by the realisation that these towering trees, many of them conifers, were integral to the castle’s identity. ‘There was a great tradition of planting conifers at Eastnor, and we have continued that,’ he says, highlighting how he ensures that the landscape maintains its historic charm.

Naturally, for a project as large as this, the obstacles were considerable. ‘The biggest challenge was the sheer scale of the pinetum,’ he notes, referring to the vast collection of conifer trees that had become overrun with dead wood, dying trees and invasive weeds. For the past 30 years, almost no trees had been planted for anything other than forestry. The approach was not only to clear away the debris but to work on the estate’s canopy, bringing a much-needed structure and visual clarity. ‘One of the most important things was to open up views from the castle and grounds out into the wider landscape,’ he explains. The efforts to remove overgrown poplar plantations has opened sweeping vistas, now offering breathtaking views of the surrounding park and Malvern Hills.

Looking back on his three-decade journey visiting Eastnor, Stuart-Smith reflects on witnessing the grounds evolve over time: ‘It’s been a great experience to follow the development of the grounds, something I’ve not been able to do on almost any other project. It’s been inspiring to see how, over a period, James [Hervey-Bathurst, owner of Eastnor] has steadily managed to achieve a great deal – simply by keeping at it. I hope that visitors come and enjoy the magnificent trees and feel like this is a landscape that has been cared for and has a future.’