Little Mynthurst Garden, Horley, Surrey – open under the NGS scheme.

Little Mynthurst Farm is situated in the village of Norwood Hill, near Horley in Surrey and is only open once or twice a year under the National Gardens Scheme.

The former home of Lord Baden Powell, this Grade ll listed house, with parts dating back to the 16th century is mainly timber framed with a heavy Horsham stone roof with part of the house having previously been an adjoining barn (now the Great Hall).  Although the house itself is not open to the public, the gardens surrounding it give the visitor ample opportunity to glimpse inside!

THE GROUNDS AND GARDEN

The grounds cover 12 acres in total and the gardens are fairly extensive and worth a visit, particularly to see the ordered walled kitchen garden with glasshouses, cucumber frames and well tended, organised beds with just about every fruit and vegetable imaginable.  The entire vegetable area should provide inspiration to the most reluctant gardener with seasonal produce providing a feast for the eyes.

ROSE WALK

A white and yellow rose walk surrounded by neatly mown lawns leads away from the kitchen garden and in another walled area, wrought iron gates open onto a tranquil ‘secret’ walled garden, with symmetrical herbaceous beds generously planted in block colours of blues, pinks, purples and whites, where flowers and foliage fight for space.  Delphiniums and roses have their own beds in this area and a line of topiary trees invite the visitor to explore the miniature pool at the far end of this charming garden.

The front of the house is covered with a well-trained climbing rose, it’s delicate branches carefully pruned to provide almost symmetrical lines of blooms.  LAWNS, LAKE AND LOTS OF BIRDS

A stone path bordered by extensive bright bedding plants leads around the house itself, and on the rear lawn 4 box parterres are planted with further eye-wateringly colourful bedding.  An iron gate leads to the swimming pool area and a further rose walkway, lined with yet more bedding, leads back towards the house and terrace area. Lawns slope gently towards a quiet lake overhung with trees; home to a family of ducks and Canada geese.  Further fowl are housed in separate cages and aviaries; we spotted peacocks, parrots and doves.  Ornithophobes beware!

This garden is open under the National Gardens Scheme on selected days each summer.  See link for details of other gardens open under this charity scheme.