The Garden
The Garden is divided into a series of “rooms” using old brick walls and Yew hedges.
The Hall & Walled Gardens
A – Courtyard Garden
The new formal garden to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary was created on the north side of the Hall in 2016. The central focus of the design is a lead-lined rill, with mirror imaged gardens to east and west. The main structure includes pleached Tilia euchlora, Ilex crenata, Prunus lusitanica and Laurus nobilis topiary, Roses, Paeonia, Agapanthus, Cistus, Lillium, Tulips, Geraniums, Lavandula and Rosemarius. It has been designed as a is a green, white and blue garden with year-round interest.
Among the wall plants round the Hall are Garrya elliptica, Vitis coignetiae, Hydrangea petiolaris, Euonymus, Clematis & Roses. The walls to the North have Peaches, Plums & Figs on them.
B – Budgies
These Budgies here used to be free-flying, but the huge increase in the number of Raptors finished this. The aviary now houses about 200 budgies where they live and breed happily.
C – Old Barn
This Barn dates from the 1750’s and the climbing shrubs around it include Lonicera tellmanniana, Azara macrophylla, Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia kolomikta and Carpentaria californica. To the south of the barn are the cold frames, together with an area for cutting flowers.
D – Kitchen Garden
A real “Jardin Potager” with holding plants, unusual vegetables, raspberries, trained pear trees plus two glasshouses. We propagate and grow most of our own plants.
E – Clock Bed
This bed is grey and red and includes, Cytisus batterandii, and Clematis `Bill Mackenzie`, Ceanothus concha are by the pillars and on the Hall Loquat and Vitis purpurea.
F – The Terrace
The Yews and arch at the east end were the only Yews existing in 1952. The urns will be Buxus Balls when they are mature. The Wisteria sinensis was replanted in 2005 with Lavandula Hidcote Blue beneath. The old whisky barrels are planted with Hydrangeas and are replanted every four years. The roses below the terrace are Rosa ‘Sexy Rexy’ and Rosa ‘Margaret Merrill’.
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 remaining Filberts and Kentish Cobs are under-planted with Snowdrops, Aconites, Muscari, Blue Bells and Cowslips.
J – Back Drive Entrance
This area has the fruit cage with apples, pears, wine berries, gooseberries, red currants and plums, surrounded by a hedge of Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’. To the east of the fruit cage is a collection of traditional English fruit trees including Quince, Medlar, Mulberry, Damson & Greengage. The garage to the south contains our new 200 kW wood fuel boiler that provides heating and hot water for the Hall and all the buildings in the garden. All the timber used comes from our own woodlands.
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 Stapylea colchica, Paeonia ‘Ludlow’, Viburnums onondaja, x hilleri ‘Winton’ and odoratissimum, Ceanothus jenkyns and Decaisnea fargesii.
M – Herbaceous Border
This was completely replanted in 2010 and is constantly changing. It is at its best from June to August.
N – Paved Garden
A quiet space to sit and contemplate. The planting in the four roundels is changed every year.
0 – Lime Walk
Down the steps from the Paved Garden is the Lime Walk. The two lines of pollarded Tilia platyphyllos ‘Rubra’ are under-planted with spring bulbs and Daffodils.
P – Secret Garden
This was the old rose garden, but after 55 years and with all the Malus trees, which gave it structure, dead, it has now been grassed down until a new design has been decided upon.
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 two fine weeping white Wisteria trees, the family Pet Cemetery and leads down to the area known as China.
S – China
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. staff, who complained that digging the water main in the 1960’s was as bad as working on the original in Burma!).
