Weather

Holehird is located at about 160 metres above sea level, on a steeply sloping site, with slightly acid soil.  These factors all influence the style and practice of gardening at Holehird, but it is the climate that has the greatest impact on what we can grow.

The climate of the Lake District is immensely varied, ranging from fairly dry and sunny along the western coast to extremely wet and dull in the central fells.  The climate of Holehird lies somewhere between the two with rainfall in the region of 1800mm per year, the major part falling during the winter months.

The months of April, May and June are usually dry and sunny.  Late August and September are often very wet and dull which curtails the growing season.  In mid-winter the lack of sun due to short days is compounded by the predominance of dull overcast skies.  Growing plants under glass at this time of year makes great demands on the gardener's skill.  Winters are usually mild and snow seldom lies for long periods, which enables us to succeed with many plants usually considered tender.

Some years ago,the Lakeland Horticultural Society installed an automatic weather station which records the main climatic factors recognised as affecting plant growth.  As data is accumulated we shall be able to explain the performance of plants in certain years;  for example, why daffodils and rhododendrons flower so profusely in some years and not in others.  A summary of each month's readings is displayed in the garden under the pergola outside Visitor Information.

Charts of historic weather measurements can be viewed here for each month since June 2009.  Simply navigate to a year of interest using the menu on the left, and then select a month.

At the bottom of each month of charts there is a download link to tables of original weather measurements, and the Weather Data Reference Factsheet is available for download.

The Live Weather Display shows the current weather data for Holehird Gardens, and a  Weather Summary is available too.