reviews of British gardens and nurseries, large and small.
If you are in the Banbury area and looking for a beautiful space to walk, enjoy shady trees and woodland flora, then Evenley Wood Garden is the destination for you. With 60 acres to explore there is much to discover and year round interest for everyone. We visited on a bright February day, looking forward... Continue Reading →
The most wonderful and unique garden awaits in Oxfordshire, as long as you are not looking for a tea room, 'visitor experience', or adventure playground! Rousham, built in 1635 by Sir Robert Dormer sits squarely within its garden and grounds, designed by William Kent (an early pioneer of 'The New English Style' of landscaping) in... Continue Reading →
What's not to like about a garden visit that includes a stately home with resident family, a Capability Brown landscape and glorious gardens? Bowood, near Calne in Wiltshire ticks all these boxes in spades with the added bonus of a tour around the private walled garden belonging to the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. Wide... Continue Reading →
There was a time when one could pick up a Constance Spry vase in a charity shop for very little money and indeed I recall my own mother giving away one such vase simply because the style had fallen from fashion. Well done those clever individuals who kept theirs lurking at the back of cupboards... Continue Reading →
With gardens re-opening across England in recent weeks I have wasted no time in searching out new places to visit and the month of June has been one of discovery. The front of Lower House, Bowlhead Green The National Gardens Scheme gives visitors unique access to private gardens across England and Wales and all monies... Continue Reading →
"The best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland" is a somewhat lofty claim. But honestly, when I arrived at dawn on a very cold and frosty morning last week I was in total agreement as I quite literally almost wept for joy at seeing the expansive gardens and topiary laid out before me, as... Continue Reading →
Described as 'Worcestershire's hidden garden', Bodenham Arboretum, near Kidderminster is a great day out for anyone wishing to walk in delightful surroundings. The site spans 134 acres and is set in a natural bowl shaped valley with a number of lakes and pools fed by ground springs. There are over 3000 species of trees around... Continue Reading →
Autumn is the most wonderful time to visit an arboretum and Thorp Perrow near Bedale in Yorkshire is truly one of the most lovely. The estate is privately owned by the Ropner family whose ancestor, Sir William Ropner purchased the estate in 1927. Each generation of Ropners have made their mark at Thorp Perrow. Currently... Continue Reading →
Gravetye Manor, on the Kent/Sussex border was built in 1598 and is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture. It was bought in 1885 by William Robinson, an early advocate of the naturalistic planting style that has since been copied in gardens across the world. During his time at Gravetye, Robinson created the sloping gardens to... Continue Reading →
Situated in the shadow of the Malvern Hills, the Old Court Nurseries and Picton Garden are a family-run treasure that have evolved over three generations. Established in 1906 by Ernest Ballard, an early breeder of Asters, the garden was taken over by Percy Picton in 1947 who managed the garden for nearly ten years before... Continue Reading →
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