Connaught Gardens

Imagine a garden perched on a seaside cliff, where the scent of salt spray mingles with the fragrance of blossoms. It’s a place where high, historic walls create distinct “outdoor rooms,” sheltering exotic palms just steps from the English Channel. Here, a unique project is bringing prehistoric plants back to the Jurassic Coast, and a rare, recently arrived bee has found a crucial sanctuary. This is not a fantasy; it is Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth.

This award-winning public space offers far more than manicured lawns. It is a living intersection of royal history, clever architectural preservation, and surprising ecology. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the sea, Connaught Gardens is a tranquil retreat that invites visitors to uncover the fascinating stories hidden within its sheltered walls and along its dramatic cliff-top paths.

Connaught Gardens is beautifully situated on the western cliffs of Sidmouth, at the very top of the town's famous Jacob's Ladder. This prime location offers breathtaking, uninterrupted views over the beach, the town, and the vast expanse of the sea along the Jurassic Coast.

Connaught Gardens lye between the sea shore and Peak Hill Road and across the road from the large Manor Road car park. On foot, you can climb the steps of Jacob's Ladder to the gardens on top of the cliff.

The gardens have a distinguished history, adding to a legacy of royal connections in a town where Queen Victoria herself stayed as a child. They were officially opened to the public in 1934 by their namesake, His Grace, The Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s third son.

Today, the gardens are celebrated not only for their heritage but for their sustained excellence in maintenance and environmental management. This is recognised by the prestigious Green Flag Award, an international quality mark that Connaught Gardens has now won for an astounding 19 years in a row.

The garden’s main habitats consist of well-kept lawns and vibrant flower beds, but its ecological heart is the strip of natural maritime cliff habitat along the sea-facing terrace. The key to the garden's unique character lies not in modern technology, but in a legacy of 19th-century architecture.

The key, it turns out, is a clever "refuge effect." When the gardens were designed, the high walls of an early 19th-century marine villa called "Seaview" were deliberately retained. These historical structures act as a powerful shield, protecting the plants from harsh coastal winds and salt spray. This shelter creates a distinct microclimate that allows exotic, temperate plants to thrive, giving the gardens an almost Mediterranean feel.

The former Poet Laureate, John Betjeman, perfectly captured this unique atmosphere:

“Pause on Peak Hill, look Eastward to the town, Then to the Connaught Gardens wander down, And in the shelter of its tropic bowers, I see bright and outsize Devon flowers.”

The unique microclimate at Connaught Gardens supports a surprisingly diverse collection of flora. Visitors are often struck by the sight of exotic palms flourishing against the Devon sky, with species like the Blue Hesper Palm (Brahea armata), the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis), and Windmill Palms (Trachycarpus) adding to the garden’s unique atmosphere.

Connecting the gardens directly to their famous surroundings is the "Cretaceous Arboretum." This ambitious project offers a "living interpretation of prehistoric plant life" by introducing trees and shrubs—such as magnolias and palms—that are reminiscent of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. It creates a tangible link between the gardens and the ancient geology of the Jurassic Coast.

The garden's diversity is further illustrated by a range of other recorded species, including the durable Holm Oak and the Duke of Argyll's Teaplant, an introduced species that is popular with some insects.

While some resident birds like robins and chaffinches can be found here, their population indices are generally low. The most significant animal life is, in fact, insect-based. The ecological engine of the gardens is the mature ivy that clothes the cliff-top terrace, which serves as a keystore habitat. In late autumn, when other flowers have faded, this ivy provides an indispensable, high-calorific food source.

This vital resource supports the garden's star resident: the Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae). Connaught Gardens hosts a "good colony" of this specialist bee, a fact made more significant because the species is a "recent arrival in Britain." Its thriving presence here is a direct result of the life-sustaining nectar provided by the ivy when little else is available. Other insects, including the Buff-tailed Bumble Bee and the Gatekeeper butterfly, also find a home here.

Beyond the garden walls, the cliff-top location serves as a world-class vantage point for spotting wildlife. Observers can look for coastal birds like the Oystercatcher and Cormorant on the rocks below, but the real spectacle can be found in the waters of Lyme Bay. With patience, you may be lucky enough to spot seals, dolphins, Leatherback Turtles, and even the world’s second-largest fish, the Basking Shark. Minke Whales and Orcas have also been seen in the waters around Devon, making these gardens a gateway to the wild heart of the ocean.

Connaught Gardens is more than just a beautifully preserved piece of Sidmouth's heritage; it is a dynamic space that has gracefully evolved. Gardeners here are consciously moving away from the high-maintenance Victorian "carpet bedding" schemes of the past. In their place, they are embracing a future-focused philosophy, introducing sustainable perennials and drought-resistant species better suited to the challenges of sea air and poor soil quality.

This cliff-top jewel is a testament to how public spaces can change with the times, building resilience while actively supporting vital wildlife. It is a place of quiet beauty, surprising science, and critical conservation. As our climate changes, how can more public spaces like Connaught Gardens evolve to become beautiful sanctuaries for both people and the unique wildlife that needs our protection?