About Us

Rupert and Sara Eley took over the garden in 1995, and opened the plant centre in 1996. 

Rupert is the fourth generation of his family to garden at East Bergholt Place, his great-grandfather Charles having started to lay out the gardens at the turn of the last century.

As well as Rupert and Sara, Cuthbert and Rosie, their 2 children you may also spot Puff the terrier, Blue the peacock and Carla the peahen, a young white juvenile peahen, as well as guinea fowl, a range of chickens and the most recent additions Mr and Mrs Blackie, a fine pair of Norfolk Black Turkeys.

Rupert has been a keen gardener since childhood and after an early career in the city trained in horticulture at Hadlow College.

Rupert now serves on several of The Royal Horticultural Society’s Committees and is involved with the Suffolk Agricultural Association and Tree Register of the British Isles.

Opening Hours

Plant Centre
Open daily from 10am – 5pm
(dusk if earlier) 
Closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas bank holidays
Admission free

Garden
Open daily from 1st March to 30th September from 10am-5pm. Closed on Easter Sunday

Admission
Adults £6, Children Free
For RHS Concessions please refer to Garden &
Arboretum Section