
Back to Blogs
Discover
Fullers Mill - A Magical Garden in West Stow
Looking to relax and get back to nature? Head to Fullers Mill, an enchanting and tranquil waterside and woodland garden in West Stow.
Fullers Mill - an enchanting and tranquil waterside and woodland garden

Photo: Marcus Harper
Situated on the banks of the River Lark, Fullers Mill Garden combines a beautiful site of light dappled woodland with a fabulous collection of rare and unusual shrubs, perennials, lilies and marginal plants, collected over the course of 50 years by the creator of the garden Bernard Tickner MBE.
Bernard passed away in 2017 shortly after receiving his MBE for services to wildlife conservation and horticulture and this stunning garden is a wonderful lasting memorial to him.
Asva tribute to the man who started it all, gardeners and volunteers at Fullers Mill Garden have planted an area with a mix of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and lilies which the garden is well known for and were one of Bernard’s favourites, complete with a memorial bench donated by The Friends of Fullers Mill Garden.

Photo: Clive Nichols
Bernard Tickner moved to Fullers Mill in 1958 and made Fullers Mill Garden from rough scrub and woodland. In 2013 the garden was gifted to Perennial, the only UK charity dedicated to helping all those who work in or are retired from horticulture, in times of need.
In making the garden, Bernard recognised that the poor soil and dry conditions at Fullers Mill Garden resembled those of the Mediterranean region and has consciously made use of plants naturally adapted to such places.
It truly is a remarkable and unique garden where visitors can see early flowering snowdrops from Greece – Galanthus reginae-olgae, the spicy scent of Spartium in the summer, a Quercus macrolepis grown from an acorn collected from Crete, majestic displays of lilies and Euphorbia stygiana from The Azores, handsome throughout the year.

Photo: Lily Pardon
It is also a garden of big contrasts, from Mediterranean plantings in the Quandaries to the waterside plantings around the Mill Pond.
Quietly tucked away in a beautiful forest, there are lots of peaceful spots to sit, contemplate and watch the world go by. Artists can often be found in the garden along the banks of the River Lark or at the pretty footbridges over Culford stream, providing inspiration for painters and sketchers alike. The lock here was formerly one of 23 locks enabling barges to bring mainly coal from the North Sea up to Bury St Edmunds and to take corn back.
After you’ve toured the garden you can enjoy tea, coffee and delicious home-made from the Bothy. Plants propagated from the garden are available for sale and make a wonderful souvenir from your visit.

Photo: Marcus Harper
Fullers Mill Garden is open from April to September on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm to 5pm and on Sundays from 11am-5pm. In addition, the garden hosts a number of events throughout the year including the Suffolk Nurseries Plant Fair in July and open days as part of the National Gardens Scheme.
Fullers Mill Garden is now an RHS Partner Garden, with RHS members entitled to free entry on Wednesday afternoons.
Related Blogs

News
New cycle hire offer at…
A new cycle hire offer at Ickworth allows visitors to…

News
Discover The Abbey Gardens…
This stunning park in the heart of Bury St Edmunds is…

News
Where to See Snowdrops in…
Welcome the spring with a walk amongst the snowdrops…

News
Fun-Filled Family Days Out
If you're looking for a day out that the whole family…

News
Autumn Wildlife Checklist
With the arrival of autumnal weather, now is the…
Latest news

News
Lavenham Literary Festival Is Back
To celebrate 1000 years since the founding of King Edmund’s monastery in Bury St Edmunds, Simon Edge author of the hilarious Anyone for Edmund? will be one of the guest authors!

News
New cycle hire offer at Ickworth
A new cycle hire offer at Ickworth allows visitors to easily explore the 1,800 acre estate on two wheels.

News
Abraham Lincoln Helps Bury St Edmunds Celebrate Independents Week!
Shoppers in Bury St Edmunds may have to look twice if they see ‘Abraham Lincoln’ in the town centre on July 4.

News
Father's Day Gift Guide
This Father's Day, treat your Dad to a unique gift or delicious takeaway or a taste from Bury St Edmunds & Beyond...

News
Discover The Abbey Gardens Bury St Edmunds
This stunning park in the heart of Bury St Edmunds is steeped in history and stories and is the perfect place to watch the world go by ...

News
Flower Exhibition reflects 1000 years of Abbey
St Edmundsbury Cathedral will be home to an exhibition this summer, celebrating 1000 years of the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds in flowers.
News
Enjoy the Free Abbey 1000 Heritage Trail!
Some of the most famous historical names associated with Bury St Edmunds form the basis of a new trail helping participants discover the town’s heritage this summer.

News
Dog-Friendly Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants In and Around Bury St Edmunds
With dog-friendly cafes and restaurants you can enjoy Suffolk's foodie town and still bring your four-legged friend!

News
Dog Friendly Attractions in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond
With beautiful parks and countryside to explore, there are a wealth of places to take well behaved dogs in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond!