Famed for its rhododendrons, azaleas and wallabies, the 225 acre in West Sussex has been sold to an unnamed eastern European businessman for around £5million.

The gardens have been in the ownership of the Loder family since 1889 and have been open to the public for more than 100 years.

Its presumed that the Leonardslee Gardens (official website) will remain open until 30th Jun, 2010.

Leonardslee Gardens Closing To Public is a post from: Flower Shows

McVicar is an accomplished garden designer and has won 12 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower show. I saw a photo of this design in The Telegraph and it looks great sitting in the shadow of Nelsons Column.

Jekka McVicar Rooftop Herb Garden is a post from: Flower Shows

A sketch by Capability Brown, believed to be his first garden plan, has lay hidden in a desk drawer until Mr John Anderson discovered it in 1980. Mr Anderson is the current owener of Kirkharle Courtyard where Brown used to live.

If funding and planning permission can be obtained, the garden plan that covers about 100 acres of rolling Northumberland countryside could take about 18 months to create.

Capability Brown was England’s finest landscape architect and gardener, responsible for creating more than 170 parks and gardens at some of the countrys finest estates.

Capability Brown Design A Potential Garden is a post from: Flower Shows