The garden at Buckand Abbey is a tranquil spot and it is not hard to imagine that Cistercian monks once walked here hundreds of years ago. But, in fact, the garden is largely a twentieth century creation. The planting around the Abbey's lawns is an informal mix of eucryphia, camellia, azalea, rhododendron and acer with some more unusual plants.

To the north of the Abbey, the destruction of the ancient yew walk by gales and root disease has given the Trust the opportunity to create the new Elizabethan garden. Evidence from historical sources was the inspiration for the design for this evolving garden, which includes features such as a circular pool, granite steps and topiary bushes, box-edged beds containing examples of plants that would have been grown in Tudor times, a grassy meadow and a small orchard planted with old fruit varieties. Between the Elizabethan garden and the wall of the Great Barn are three galvanised wire sculptures of sheep, a reminder of the flocks farmed by the Cistercian monks at Buckland. Other sculptures can be found throughout the grounds and estate walks.