25 Years of the Millennium Garden: A Celebration for the Ages

This week at Pensthorpe, we’ve been celebrating a very special milestone – the 25th anniversary of our Millennium Garden. Designed by world-renowned plantsman Piet Oudolf, this breathtaking space has been delighting visitors since 2000 and remains one of the jewels in Pensthorpe’s crown.

From Monday to Friday, the garden became the stage for a week-long programme of special events. Visitors enjoyed history talks with our Head Gardener, Jonathan Pearce, creative plant printing workshops, artists-in-residence capturing the garden’s spirit, and hands-on gardening sessions with our incredible volunteers. Families joined in with a special edition of Mini Gardener’s Club.

Today, we brought the celebrations to a fitting finale by burying a time capsule, which will be opened in 2050. Inside are the original Millennium Garden plans, photographs from Bill & Deb’s first days at Pensthorpe, team photos, and a collection of memorabilia that tell the story of the garden’s first 25 years. This capsule will give future generations the chance to look back on the garden’s early history – and perhaps reflect on how much it has changed.

Bill and Deb Jordan, owners of Pensthorpe, shared:

“We can’t believe how fast time flies, but we’re still in awe of this garden. It was one of the main parts that drew us to Pensthorpe all that time ago – a hidden jewel that we didn’t yet know would become so important and impactful. We want to thank our Head Gardener Jonathan, our fantastic team, and our tribe of volunteers, none of this would be possible without you. Here’s to the next 25 years. We can’t wait to continue to connect visitors with the natural world.”

Right now, the Millennium Garden is alive with late-summer colour, waving grasses and striking perennials providing texture and drama. It’s the perfect time to visit, take a moment to slow down, and appreciate the artistry of Piet Oudolf’s design.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone – from our dedicated team and volunteers to every visitor who has ever wandered through this special space.

Here’s to the next 25 years of colour, creativity, and connection with nature. ?