| The Garden Every garden is unique but this one can truly claim to be something different. A common reaction of visitors is "You must be mad" and we accept that not many people would want to cultivate a couple of acres of forty five degree slope facing north west. Even less so when told that in about 1972 when we started constructing the garden the land was completely wild and well endowed with the remnants of a scrap yard, nettles, brambles and fallen trees. |
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Because of the aspect, the site is very exposed and hence
cold, windy and lacking direct sunlight. Furthermore, the soil is light
with the sandstone base never far away and quickly suffers from drought. Not by
any means an ideal situation, but there were
the positive aspects of a fine view across the valley, the natural interest of
a slope and easily worked, free draining, neutral soil.
If we had known anything about gardening and what we were letting ourselves in
for we probably would never have started.
Ignorance is a wonderful thing.
We have gone for variety, a surprise around each corner and a touch of eccentricity. Gardens and gardeners can take themselves too seriously and we have included a few light hearted features simply for fun. Within the constraints of the steep slope, the garden has been laid out to provide as many different styles and features as possible, from the formality of paved terraces to a woodland path. It is not divided into rooms and neither is it open plan but there are atttempts to subtly hide one area from the next. Many of the features have resulted from the influence of great gardens we have visited and trips we have made. Why shouldn't a smaller garden have a laburnum walk like Bodnant, a folly or two and scaled down versions of a parterre and long walk as seen in gardens of the past? If you don’t find the flasher you have not been everywhere. Complementary to the variety of features we have sought variety in the material grown. We have planted over 450 different varieties of shrub and trees and there are many hundreds of wild and cultivated herbaceous plants. We also grow some 15 types of fruit and nuts and there is a partially walled vegetable garden and three glasshouses on the top level. A start has been made on a major collection of ivies for which the site is very favourable. It is the many different features and styles, together with the unusual aspect, which makes this a distinctive and truly unique garden. Unlike many in the modern trend, it is also labour intensive. To save you asking, we do not employ a gardener and at the last count there were over 650 steps. |
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The garden is in the National Gardens Scheme "Yellow
Book" and The Good Gardens Guide.
Particular open days are given in the Yellow book and it is open by appointment
from May to August.
| See more in the picture tour |  |
Selected garden related links
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