Exbury Gardens are quite different from the general image of the New Forest, it is a planted garden only maintained by the constant effort of gardeners. Famous for its Rhododendrons it is no accident that it lies within the Forest, the climate and acid soils are ideal for these plants, just as they are for the heath and bog of the more traditional open Forest. The gardens include native woodlands that run right down to the Beaulieu River, the trees only stopping where the seawater washes their roots. The vibrancy of the gardens offers an experience within the Forest that is also quite at odds with the more muted hues of heath, bog and inclosure. Working in these gardens affords opportunities to capture them through the seasons and in many moods.