FAQs

What do visitors say about the Gardens?

We have received some lovely feedback. Here is a selection of the most recent:

 

“Hello, I visited Burnby this weekend and wanted to say what a beautiful job you’ve all done with the tulips. The arrangements and information and colours were simply beautiful. We enjoyed a complete escape and I enjoyed snapping away (!) and will look forward to returning this summer. Thank you.”

 

Hello, just wanted to say a massive thank you to all the staff and the Punch and Judy man/Magician that were working today, 28th July. I came to Burnby Hall with my 3 and 4 year old, we haven’t been for a good 18/24 months. The lady that checked us in was lovely, explained about the honesty box for the fish food etc, the lady and man near the birds helping with the traditional games were great and very chatty, chap serving the ice creams and a special mention for the Punch and Judy man/magician, my children totally adored him and he made me laugh as well. For about £15 we had a great day.”

 

“… we had a wonderful day as we usually do. I must say it is our favourite place as a family to come. I think all your safety measures have been second to none, and  I love the fact that you limit numbers, its always such a lovely relaxing place to be. the flowers and planting are fantastic, the new rock garden looks soooo nice. We sat in places we have never been able to sit before and I am very impressed how it has grown and looks so beautiful. Our grandchildren have many photos of themselves in the funny man sculpture in the stumpery, and once again can I say thankyou for making us feel so welcome every time we come…every single member of staff are excellent at their jobs!”

 

“Visited today for the first time & felt very safe at these lovely gardens & Lilypad cafe. Sanitising stations & one-way systems in place. Well done Burnby Hall.”

 

“Hi. Just to let you know we had a lovely visit today. Very well organised, easy booking and not busy which I was worried about. Relaxed and very pleasant afternoon. Thank you.”

 

“The Gardens look wonderful! Our return has been a joy and we are particularly grateful for the professional, kind and thoughtful safeguarding of all visitors! You are all our special Garden Stars.”

 

“A big thank you for your efficient arrangements for getting us in to BHG. We had a lovely leisurely afternoon and were welcomed on arrival and in the café by friendly helpful staff!!   The Gardens looked wonderful.  Now looking forward to our next visit.”

 

“Had a lovely afternoon here. Everything was very well organised for social distancing. Would like to praise the staff in the restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble, very friendly people and the food was excellent. Will visit again soon.”

 

“I just wanted to contact you to say how nice it was to visit your gardens on Wednesday. It was the first time my elderly mum (87) had been out since early March. We brought her along in her wheelchair and I can honestly say it is the best place we have been in terms of being able to push a wheelchair easily. We used your café and felt very safe. The cream tea was delicious. All of your staff (from the lady selling the tickets to the café staff) were very friendly and helpful. We really appreciate all the effort they went to on our behalf. Wishing you all the best for the rest of the summer season. We will be back!”

 

“Lovely visit yesterday with 3 friends who I haven’t seen since February. Very well organised entry system and cafe service. We all said how much we’d enjoyed the visit, and what a perfect place it was for a socially distanced meeting.”

 

“Had a lovely day again at Burnby Hall Gardens. Lovely friendly staff and volunteers. Food excellent. Had a catch up with the resident cat. Loved watching the moorhens with their chicks.”

 

“Hubby and I went to Burnby Hall Gardens today, for our first trip out. From arrival to exit, I was really impressed. I had bought membership online and booked a timed arrival slot of 12.15 pm. Social distancing was adhered to when queuing to get in. We went straight to the cafe and there was plenty of outdoor seating, well distanced. The service and food were good. We enjoyed walking round the one-way system and feeding the greedy fish. All in all, a very enjoyable visit, with what to us felt like just the right number of visitors.”

 

“…We had a lovely afternoon. Twas good to see BHG fully booked and nicely busy yet with plenty of space to get around and a good one-way system organised. Cafe food excellent too.

Fish were incredible! Monsters. Will certainly recommend a visit. 22month old granddaughter loved everything, even the tree trunks! And especially the metal giraffe family, the birds, the flowers and the wooden carvings in the bug garden, plus the cat we met in the rockery garden…”

 

“…. I just wanted to email to thank you and your staff for giving myself, my wife and grandson a wonderful visit to Burnby Hall yesterday.  The visit was so well organised and felt very safe, especially in the cafe, the young women serving there were absolutely brilliant – very efficient and courteous.  Please let them know what a great job they are doing.

You have all clearly put a lot of effort into ensuring visits are safe and enjoyable, and we are singing your praises all over social media.”

 

“Just had a lovely socially distanced walk around the lake and gardens. Thank you to all at Burnby Hall for your fantastic organisation – booking ahead, one-way system etc. We didn’t even mind the rain shower!”

 

“Just to pass on a message to all the staff at Burnby hall gardens. We visited last Friday and were very impressed with the social distancing measures that have been implemented at the gardens. It was very well organised and we felt very safe. The gardens themselves are looking absolutely beautiful. You have clearly been busy in lockdown.”

 

“The gardens and organisation was excellent on Saturday, we had a really lovely morning.  Thank you.”

 

“You are doing a great job, especially the wonderful picnic food from the cafe. We visited on Friday and it was lovely to come back and enjoy the garden without fear of big crowds! Very well organised.”

 

“My children and I came on the 26th June Friday it was a beautiful sunny hot day. Your lunchboxes are to die for, they were amazing and absolutely delicious they were certainly packed with such good quality food! My children and I enjoyed it had to take some back home with us. The gardens were simply stunningly beautiful. I will definitely come again bring my boyfriend along to enjoy it all over again. P.S. Your staff do a brilliant job too!”

 

“Morning we visited last week and thoroughly enjoyed it as we always do. I’d just like to say thank you for everything you’ve done to make this safe for us to come back and visit. My little girl adores every inch of Burnby hall esp. the ice cream! Thank you to you all”

 

“We visited yesterday and had an absolutely lovely time. It was our first trip out since lockdown (and our little lockdown baby first trip ever!), so a little apprehensive but everything so well organised and set out. And the takeaway picnic box was yummy.”

 

“We have been this afternoon a really lovely visit. Very impressed with your organisation. We felt very safe. Thank you.”

 

“Lovely visit this morning. It’s all very well organised. Will definitely be back soon.”

 

“Visited today and was very pleased, we had a lovely afternoon. The one-way system works well and it was nice and quiet. We could easily social distance.”

 

“Great job on keeping us all updated”

 

“We loved our visit today: the gardens were beautiful, the pizza slices were delicious, all the staff were so smiley and friendly, and we were really impressed by all the social distancing measures you’d put in place, everything was so well organised. Thank you and well done!”

 

“Really enjoyed our visit today! Thank you for having such a clear layout. Take out cafe was delicious and service was friendly”

 

“Had a lovely visit and picnic today with my grandson. Very well organised. Thank you”

 

“You’re doing a good job for everyone who wants to come into Burnby Gardens”

 

“Visited this morning. It wasn’t crowded and social distancing was very well managed. Cafe was doing take away basics and toilets were open. Very enjoyable visit. Thank you for managing it so well.”

Can I bring my dog?

Unfortunately, no. We only allow Assistance Dogs in the Gardens.

When are the Water lilies in Bloom?

They bloom on both Lakes from mid-June to the end of August.

Are there toilets on site?

Our toilets are situated at the rear of the café. We have a disabled toilet with a changing bed for those with special needs, and baby change area.

Can we feed the fish?

To keep them healthy, our fish are fed a special low protein fish food which can be purchased from the Visitor Centre for £1.20 a tub. The tubs we use are manufactured from recyclable cardboard and we encourage visitors to return the empty ones to a special bin near the Visitor Centre.

How accessible are the Gardens?

We hold an Age UK award for our facilities for disabled people.

The Gardens, Lilypad Café, Museum and Gift Shop are all wheelchair and pushchair friendly, and we have disabled toilet facilities with a changing bed for those with special needs, and a baby changing area.

There are two viewing platforms in the Gardens which allow wheelchairs and pushchairs to be positioned right up to the edge of each of the Lakes.

With the exception of the rockery, all areas are wheelchair accessible with suitable paths around the Gardens.

Assistance dogs are welcome in the Gardens, and disabled parking is available immediately next to our Visitor Centre.

We have a small number of push along wheelchairs available which can be loaned from our Visitor Centre and we advise ringing us on 01759 307125 a few days before your visit if you’d like to reserve one.

Who took the photographs on this website

The photographs on this website were taken by Paul Moon (paulmoonphotography.com), and Peter Rogers, Assistant Estate Manager at the Gardens. Aerial photographs are by Rod Smith.

Upcoming events

Events Programme 2023

Start date: April 10, 2023

End date: December 9, 2023

Time: 1000 x 1600

Here is our Events Programme for 2023. We’ve lots of exciting things planned! . Events 2023 (All 11 am x 3.30 pm unless otherwise stated). . Late April / Early May – Tulip Festival – 22nd April to 6th May (10 […]

Tulip Festival

Start date: April 22, 2023

End date: May 6, 2023

Time: 1000 x 1730

The annual Tulip Festival at Burnby Hall Gardens, Pocklington is always a very popular event and provides a colourful and vibrant beginning to our new season. This year’s festival is being held from Saturday 22nd April to Saturday 6th May […]

Shepherd Group Band

Date: April 23, 2023

Time: 1400 - 1600

Barton Community Band

Date: April 30, 2023

Time: 1400 - 1600