EXBURY Gardens has come out on top at the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious national Autumn Show held in London.

Out of 19 classes entered, the New Forest gardens took home seven first prizes and eight seconds, together with a smattering of third and fourth places.

One of the prizes awarded was for Exbury’s “Nerine” entry, which pleased Nick de Rothschild, the president of Exbury Gardens.

This year, Nick has assembled a display of Nerine sarniensis in Exbury’s Five Arrows Gallery.

Assistant head gardener, Linda Runnacles, said: “The competition this year was very stiff, so we are delighted with the results.

“The autumn colour, scent and foliage is wonderful at Exbury now and all the flowers and foliage that we entered in the show are flourishing here. We really have extended our range and our season and visitors tell us that the gardens are looking spectacular.

“The monsoon spring and summer has led to a greater leaf retention in the autumn, and the spread and pallet of colour has never been better.”

All the prize winning trees, plants and nerines can be seen in the 200 acre woodland Gardens, which are open daily until Sunday, November 4.

Share your pictures of autumn with us by adding them to our Flickr group