BRADENHAM HALL GARDEN & ARBORETUM

The Garden

The garden is divided into a series of "rooms" by the use of Yew hedges.

The Hall & Walled Gardens

A - Courtyard Garden

Among the wall plants round the House & buildings are GARRYA elliptica, VITIS coignetiae, AZARA var. Serrata, EUONYMUS, Clematis & Roses. The raised area to the North is a mixture of vegetables with Roses, Iris, Paeonias, Peaches, Plums & Figs.
B - Budgies
These Budgies were free-flying. The huge increase in the number of hawks has finished this. This area is being redesigned around a new aviary and tea seating area.
C - Old Barn
This Barn is one of the oldest in the area and the shrubs around it include LONICERA tellmanniana, AZARA macrophylla, DRIMYS winei, EUONYMUS japonica `Aureopictus`, ACTINIDIA chinensis, ACTINIDIA kolomikta and CARPENTARIA californica together with cutting flowers.
D - Kitchen Garden
A real "Jardin Potager" divided by the twin borders of the "Dogs Breakfast" which are backed by hedges of LABURNUM. The white WISTERIA sinensis `Alba` is an outstanding one, together with BUDDLEJA colvilei, ITEA ilicifolia, PIPTANTHUS laburnifolius and Figs.
E - Clock Bed & Front Door
This bed is grey and red and includes MAHONIA lomarifolia, COLQUHOUNIA coccinea and CLEMATIS `Bill Mackenzie`, near by CEANOTHUS conch and on the house Loquat and VITUS purpurea.
F - The Terrace
The Yews and arch at the East end were the only Yews existing in 1952. The urns are replanted differently each year, made more complicated by the windy site. The WISTERIA sinensis would like more space. The roses below are ROSA Frensham and ROSA Bright Smile.
G - Children's Garden (Private)
Leading off the terrace is a secluded Children's Garden, which is private.
H - Nuttery
At its best in early spring, the four rows of Filberts and two of Kentish Cobs are underplanted with Snowdrops, Aconites, Muscari, Blue Bells and Cowslips. The hedge to the south is Copper Beech.
I - Cherry Tree Triangle
This area has been redesigned to include the horse stables.
J - Back Yard
Vegetables, Fruit Cage and Bees.
K - Undesignated Area
To be redesigned

The Borders & Walks

L - Philosopher's Walk
The Philosopher's Walk runs the full length of the back of the Herbaceous Border; flanked on the right by wall Roses and on the left by the shrub borders, including STAPHYLEA colchica, PAEONIA 'Ludlow', VIBURNUM's onondaja, x hilleri 'Winton' and odoratissimum, CEQNO THUS jenkyns and DECAISNEA fargesii.
M - Herbaceous Border
The two borders are divided by a paved path with NEPETA 'Six Hills Giant' on either side, a real boon for the Bumble Bees. The colour scheme is essentially yellow and blue in early July, becoming richer and redder in August and returning to yellow in Autumn. One of the Yew rooms off here is the Swimming Pool (private), and next to it is the Paved Garden.
N - Paved Garden
This was created in 1987 from an old Floribunda Rose Garden. PRUNUS fruiticosa 'Globosa' standards set off the raised beds with many semi-tender plants below and MELIANTHUS major and DATURA'S in the pots.
0 - Pleached Lime Walk
Down the steps from the Paved Garden is the Pleached Lime Walk. The two lines of TILIA platyphyllos 'Rubra' are underplanted with spring bulbs and Daffodils.
P - Rose Garden
Reaching its peak in early July, the Rose Garden contains mostly old fashioned Roses with some Floribundas to add variety of colours, the Apple and Malus trees support climbers. Honey Fungus has been a real problem here.
Q - Woodland Border Area
This area is being redesigned. Two fine white WISTERIAs and MAGNOLIAs tripetala and acuminata, flank the entrance to the Tennis Court.
R - Cedar Area
Starting at the North end of the Philosopher's Walk is the Cedar Area, part of the Arboretum. This area is planted around a semicircular ditch, and includes a Children's Beech House, Pet Cemetery and fine Walnut Walk leading down to the area known as China.
S - China and The Winter Border
China, re-claimed from the woods in 1990, and planted in 1991/92, is situated at the East end of the Burma Road (so-called by three ex-Japanese P.O.W's staff who complained that it was as bad as working on the original!). On its West side is the newly planted small Winter Border, leading over the ditch to the Long Lawnbed Border and Arboretum.
T - Long Lawnbed
Under planted with Hellebores, ANEMONE blanda, Nerines, white Giant Colchicums and Crown Imperials, this border contains, amongst others, RIBES, LONICERA tragophylla, DEUTZIA monbeigii and ORIXA japonica, which gives off a strange scent when touched.
U - The Little Lawnbed
To the West of the Long Lawnbed is the Little Lawnbed, partly shadowed by the Copper Beech, and has of interest CALYCANTHUS floridus and RHAMNUS alaterna 'Argenteovariegata'.

You can download our Tree, Shrub & Rose catalogue, which gives information on our garden layout - species, year of planting and a key referring to the areas in the map.

Planting catalogue (MSWord format - 600k+)
Use right-click and "save as" to download to your computer.

Photographs & Credits
From L-R from top

1- The Herbaceous Border
Jerry Harpur

2- The Rose Garden
Jerry Harpur

3- The Terrace
Sid Lancaster

4-The Rose Garden
Jerry Harpur

Photos originally published by Jarrolds of Norwich