The iconic Trott’s Gardens in Allenton is up for sale again.

In 2023, less than two years ago, the almost-three hectare gardens was purchased by a Whitianga couple.

But it’s now up on TradeMe for what the current owners are calling a “reluctant sale.”

Rob Riedstra said the decision to relist didn’t come easy.

“It’s got nothing to do with Trott’s gardens, or Ashburton.

“It’s strictly for family reasons - We need to be north to be closer to our family.”

Since purchasing the land in September 2023, he and wife Janene had put a lot of love into the property.

“We’ve put our hearts and souls, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, into doing up the gardens, and putting in a pub, redoing the marquee.

“The whole scenario was 100% perfect [for us].”

He said the Ashburton community had been “great” to the pair over their time here.

“It pains us, it really does.”

The pair had added a small English pub, the Brantwood Arms, to the gardens, and had carried out restoration of the Brantwood Chapel and event areas.

Trott’s Gardens was the brainchild of Alan and Catherine Trott, who purchased the four-hectare plot in 1978.

It was bare land back then, apart from a house and stables dating back to 1880, “one of the oldest buildings in the area” according to the Trademe listing.

They turned 2.8 hectares into a garden and opened it to the public for viewings and weddings.

The New Zealand Gardens Trust awarded six stars to the Allenton garden and labelled it as a NZ Garden of International Significance.

In 2017, ownership of the gardens were taken over by a charitable trust as the Trott’s moved to an 1920s villa in Ashburton and began living smaller.

By Anisha Satya