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Surrey’s Darts Hill Garden Park

Darts Hill Garden Park

Darts Hill Garden Park is a beautiful garden in Surrey that’s open to the public only on special occasions including weekends from April until September.

The venue closes between October and March.

 

Surrey’s Darts Hill Garden

Darts Hill Garden Park is a 22.5-acre property located at 1633-170th Street in South Surrey and just a 10-minute drive from White Rock. It’s a beautiful spot with paths winding through densely vegetated forested-style gardens.

Admission is by donation when the garden is open to visitors. Annual membership is available for purchase at $25 per person. The garden usually opens in April from Friday to Sunday for a few months in the spring and early summer. Hours on those days are normally from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

 

Darts Hill Opening Times

Darts Hill is open to the public only at designated times and dates. This includes open houses and special plant sale days.

Garden Strolls are available from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on select dates. The 2024 season goes from April 5th until the end of September.

Admission is by donation and recommended at $5 per person. Children ages 11 and under, however, enter for free.

Open house times are available on the Darts Hill Calendar of Events, as are plant sale dates, special member-only events, and details about the City of Surrey’s Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series that takes place on the property.

 

Summer Concert at Darts Hill
Sounds Concert at Darts Hill Garden Park

 

Open Houses

Darts Hill Garden Park also hosts a number of open houses each year. The schedule for these in 2024 is to be confirmed. Open houses are excellent value for money as plant sales are held.

 

Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series

The Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series is a series of free outdoor concerts in Surrey Parks. A concert takes place at a different place each week in July and August. In 2023, the concerts ran from July 5th to August 30th. The 2024 concert dates are still to be confirmed.

 

About the Gardens

What’s remarkable about Darts Hill Garden Park, in addition to its attractiveness and the occasional rare biological specimen, is the fact that the plants are very well-marked and categorized. Look closely and you’ll notice that a surprising number of the botanical specimens have been labelled with their names. Even the smallest of lichen in one area get their recognition.

Darts Hill isn’t the best park for children as it’s not the type with swings and a play area. However, it’s definitely a good one for plant enthusiasts.

Note: Dogs are not permitted in the gardens. Also, wheelchair access is limited and the gravel pathways are not suitable for motorized scooters.

 

Gravel Roadway at Darts Hill Garden
Entrance to Darts Hill Garden Park

 

Best Times to Visit

In addition to in the summer when there’s music at the garden, the end of April is probably the absolute best time to visit as that’s when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

May is also beautiful. Trails are nice and shady on hot summer days thanks to surrounding dense vegetation. Darts Hill Garden Park is also beautiful in mid-fall with all its autumn colours. Go on a sunny day if you can.

 

Darts Hill Plant Sale

 

History of the Garden

Darts Hill Garden Park was started by Francisca and Edwin Darts. They donated their private 7.5-acre garden to the city as part of a 999-year agreement to open the property to the public.

Darts Hill Garden was donated in 1994, during the lifetime of Mr. and Mrs. Darts. The City of Surrey purchased an additional 15 acres of neighbouring land at that time to make the place what it is today.

Presently there is still a private residence on the property and the garden remains semi-private, opening only on designated days.

Donated for the purpose of serving as a horticultural centre for the development, enhancement and preservation of plants, Darts Hill Garden Park is a beautiful and unique facility within the City of Surrey. Check it out if you can!

 

Free Outdoor Concerts

 

Other Information

For more information on the garden, see Darts Hill Garden Park.

For ideas on other things to do while in the area, see City of Surrey.

To learn about other gardens in Surrey and music opportunities in the summer, check out the Sounds of Summer Music Concert Series.

Note: Event photography and weddings are not permitted at the park.