Spalding has been the heart of the UK’s flower bulb industry since the late 19th century.  Springfields Gardens were opened to the public in April 1966, originally as a show garden to promote spring bulbs.

By the early 1990s, declining interest and income made maintaining the gardens difficult.  The launch of Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens in May 2004 revitalised the site, offering year-round free access and combining horticulture with retail and entertainment.  Springfields Gardens is the only site within the UK to offer this.

The partnership led to a £2.3 million garden redesign.  Today, the Springfields Horticultural Society (Registered Charity Number 253736) continues to develop projects that celebrate South Lincolnshire’s bulb-growing heritage as well as encouraging the use of the gardens in support of education, art projects, and community activities.

The gardens now span 15 acres.  They are open to the public 364 days a year, only closing on Christmas Day and are free to enter and explore.

Japanese Garden

When creating the Japanese style garden, Sansei-design Ltd chose the story of Momotaro, a well-known folk story in Japan.  Every stone, gravel ripple, cobble and plant is positioned so that it represents or compliments a part of the Momotaro story. Visitors can follow the garden path and learn about this tale, or simply enjoy the peace and tranquillity.