reviews of British gardens and nurseries, large and small.
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 →
If you happen to live in Northamptonshire or Oxfordshire you may possibly have heard of Wappenham, but I would like to bet that not many people know of this village's existence. It's a tiny village - sadly no pub or shop but what it does have is a number of jolly nice gardens. We were... Continue Reading →
As a South East of England dweller, I'm accustomed to National Trust properties being over-run with visitors, car-parks bursting at the seams and having to wait for a table in a tea room. Not so in quieter parts of England, such as Northamptonshire. It came as something of a surprise to note that Canons Ashby... Continue Reading →
The Cowdray Estate in West Sussex sits amidst the South Downs National Park and very close to the pretty town of Midhurst. The ruins of Cowdray House are a prominent feature in the area and although the ruins are currently closed to the public, the adjacent walled garden is a delightful find and better... Continue Reading →
The Old Rectory, Bletchingly is the sort of NGS garden that everyone hopes to stumble across. The property comprises a handsome honeyed stone Georgian house set amidst country meadows and it is hard to believe that the busy M23 and Gatwick airport are a mere stone's throw away. Approached via a narrow tree-lined lane,... Continue Reading →
Morton Hall, near Inkberrow in Worcestershire is a private garden set on the edge of an embankment that gives spectacular views across the Vale of Evesham. The eight acres of gardens and grounds have been completely re-designed in the last 10 years by Charles Chesshire into a series of linked garden rooms that lead... Continue Reading →
The NGS celebrated their 90th birthday over the May bank holiday weekend and finding myself in Northamptonshire I was delighted to be able to visit two gardens open under the scheme. The first, Jericho was a Jekyll inspired town garden in the centre of Oundle whilst in complete contrast, the expansive grounds of Titchmarsh House... Continue Reading →
Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire is quite rightly a popular destination for garden and history lovers alike. The title of Palace is a worthy one given its splendour and pomp. The Palace, built between 1705 and 1722 is complimented by formal gardens designed by Henry Wise and a water parterre designed by Achille Duchêne. With landscaped... Continue Reading →
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