Land once home to Henry VIII's palace wins awards

Nonsuch Park is now known for its gardens and landscapes

A park in Surrey which was once home to a palace built for King Henry VIII has won the two top awards for heritage and conservation.

The king had begun building Nonsuch Palace in 1538 to mark 30 years on the throne, but died before it was completed. Work was not finished until at least 1556.

The palace was eventually destroyed and Nonsuch Park is now a vast country park between Cheam and Ewell village, with ancient woodland and habitats for birds, insects and other animals.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council said winning gold in the heritage park of the year and large conservation area categories in the 2025 South & South East in Bloom awards was an "incredible achievement".

This image shows Queen Elizabeth I arriving at Nonsuch Palace by carriage in 1562

The gold award is the highest honour bestowed by the organisers and is only awarded to entries that achieve exceptional standards across every judging category, the council said.

Councillor Anthony Froud, chairman of the Nonsuch Park joint management committee, said: "This is an incredible achievement and a reflection of the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

"Local volunteers, the Nonsuch Voles and the Council's Countryside, Property and Estates, and operational teams work year-round to protect and enhance this unique heritage landscape for the benefit of wildlife, visitors and future generations.

"These gold awards celebrate their hard work and the deep pride our community takes in Nonsuch Park."

The result comes after work to restore heritage features of the garden, such as the greenhouse and the presence of several champion trees, a designation given to selected trees that are special because of their height, size, or significance.