![Abbey Gardens credit Shawn Pearce 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Abbey-Gardens-credit-Shawn-Pearce-1500x390.jpg?w=1504&h=390&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654787686&s=8dd422aa8571a86233bcb073f1838324)
Back to Blogs
Discover
Abbey Gardens to offer more to visitors
The Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds will be improved with a new information point and plant sales area to offer even more of an attraction to visitors.
The Abbey Gardens, part of the former Abbey of St Edmund founded 999 years ago, attracts more than 1.2 million visits per year with the footfall recorded at its entrances.
One of the big attractions of the Abbey Gardens is the floral displays looked after by the West Suffolk Council Parks Team and a team of volunteers. People are also interested in the history of the Abbey and finding out more information about the area.
The aviary also continues to be popular and while it will remain, part of it which has stood empty for more than five years, is to be demolished over the next few weeks. That will make space for the installation of the new visitor information point and plant sales area.
While plants have been sold in the gardens for many years, a lack of space in the rangers hut by the bowls green has meant that they have had to be moved in and out of the building at the beginning and end of each day. The new modular building, which will have a sedum roof, will overcome this and allow the plants to be displayed much better. The new facility will be operated by the Parks Team, and will replace the rangers hut which is no longer fit for purpose. A decision on the future use of the old rangers hut has not yet been made.
![Abbey Gardens credit Shawn Pearce 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/Abbey-Gardens-credit-Shawn-Pearce-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654011429&s=842a0ade179667dd822d7d367d3ec511)
The existing kiosk, known as The Garden Café, sells ice cream, lollies and drinks and is expected to stay open throughout the construction work which it is hoped will be completed by early in the school summer holidays.
A spokesman for the West Suffolk Council said: “The Abbey Gardens and the wider historic fabric and heritage of the Abbey of St Edmund continues to be a popular attraction for local residents and visitors alike.
“We recognise that people visit the gardens for leisure activities as well as to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and that is why we are continuing to invest in its facilities as well as building new tennis courts on the site of the former Eastgate Nurseries on the other side of the river.
“West Suffolk Council is a member of the Abbey of St Edmund Heritage Partnership, set up to help people better understand the life and times of St Edmund and the Medieval Abbey and to ensure its conservation for future generations to enjoy. Further improvements will be made in the area as the work of the Heritage Partnership progresses including a series of community celebrations next year to mark 1000 years since the foundation of the Abbey.”
Latest news
![Abbey Gardens family 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Abbey-Gardens-family-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1652275168&s=b6bd35533a1c7bd1ddc9af5cb332588d)
News
Bury St Edmunds Parks awarded Green Flag Status!
Bury St Edmunds Parks awarded Green Flag status!
![Burys Best By Bike hero 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Burys-Best-By-Bike-hero-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.3452&fp-y=0.4554&dm=1720602549&s=9a9a607225afcb57e27b70aed3143ca2)
News
New Sightseeing PedalCab Rides Launched to Delight Visitors to Bury St Edmunds this Summer
Join Ecocarriers Bury St Edmunds for a Bury's Best, By Bike PedalCab rides around the town's iconic historic sights!
![Abbey gardens hero 1500x390 2024](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Abbey-gardens-hero-1500x390-2024.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720702975&s=6175c66b51bf48449190bb1b2d89b1c9)
News
Abbey Gardens in Top 20 Most Visited Free Attractions in England and Top in the East of England
The historic Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds with the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund is in the Top 20 most visited free attractions in England and the top free attraction in the East of…
News
Unmissable Events for Families this Summer
Whether you're heading here for a summer holiday or simply looking for a fun day out, these unmissable family events and activities are sure to keep everyone entertained!
![Theatre in The Park hero image 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Theatre-in-The-Park-hero-image-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720428255&s=a499c13c9b8a61672deeb0e8b804fcbc)
News
Get Ready for Theatre in The Parks This Summer
The popular outdoor theatre season returns for 2024 with a new programme of performances in the beautiful Abbey Gardens and West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village.
![Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Bury-St-Edmunds-Tour-Guides-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1705586876&s=862b6e66ef83e0437ac2329bae7af599)
News
Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides in the top 10% of attractions worldwide
Reviews of Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides via Tripadvisor have resulted in them being rated in the top 10% attractions worldwide, classing them as a winner in the Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024.
![Suffolk Regiment Museum 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Suffolk-Regiment-Museum-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1716203507&s=bddc78c644c3d3ae7bcf76dd9a646667)
News
Suffolk Regiment Museum Re-Opens After Refurbishment
The Suffolk Regiment Museum has reopened its doors to visitors after an eight-month long refurbishment.
![Pickwick Afternoon Tea 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Pickwick-Afternoon-Tea-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.485&fp-y=0.5262&dm=1718272069&s=a600ffc1b248685e08a90eb5030ab358)
News
The Angel Hotel Launches a new Dickens-themed themed afternoon tea experience
The Angel Hotel launches new themed afternoon tea experience based on the life & works of Charles Dickens.
![Cathedral Gin hero 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Cathedral-Gin-hero-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1717754453&s=49cc6a4596077ef8a04159bf9e6f6d67)
News
Cathedral Launches Three Gins
St Edmundsbury Cathedral has partnered with Heart of Suffolk Distillery to produce three Cathedral-inspired gins.