Designer and author William Robinson created his revolutionary "wild garden" here at Gravetye by  "placing perfectly hardy plants in places they will take care of themselves."

To promote his approach, Robinson wrote The Wild Garden in England.  And he created his own garden, Gravetye, as an example.  His garden has each of the elements of the wild garden: close to the house geometric planting beds are stuffed with sun loving native and wild plant species; beyond the house he created a mixed meadow; in the distance there is a pond for water loving plants; and a woodland area beckons to shade lovers.