The garden is laid out in a series of ornamental and productive spaces, including a small orchard, fruit garden and vegetable patch. Each part of the garden has its own attraction and you can wander at will or follow a trail.


Our trail begins in the small courtyard which is a riot of colour in summer. It is packed with perennials bound by neat box hedges. Crossing over to the stone steps you pass through the stumpary and its collection of plants that thrive in dry shade. A shallow pond edged with lush foliage and fed by a gentle waterfall greets your arrival into the garden proper. 

Here the highlight for many is the blue conifer (Abies Koreana 'Horstmann's Silberlocke') shot through with Tropaeolum speciosum; for others, it's Rosa 'Kiftsgate' in full bloom scrambling through the neighbouring trees. However, don't let either distract you from the patio area at the back of which you will find a still stone pond. Having investigated the planting in the borders surrounding the lawn, saunter over to the next lawn area.

In early summer, you may wish to take a seat under the weeping pear, and admire the beautifully blossomed Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi', or in high summer you will be rewarded with a clear view of the glasshouse clad in clematis and fronted by a heady mix of pink and white roses and lilies.

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Wander down the path through the mini woodland area towards the stately Norwegian Maple 'Crimson King'. As you walk, take time to notice such delights such as the dainty Euphorbia Cyparissias 'Fens Ruby', or star-shaped Geranium x.oxonianum 'Sherwood' before passing through the wrought iron gates.

You can either continue straight along the beech walk or turn left into the large expanse of lawn. A densely packed herbaceous border, notable for its joyous but judicious use of colour, draws the eyes to the right. Many different dahlias delight here. On the left you can see a fine specimen of Clerodendron trichotomum; it is a sight to behold in late summer. The long lawn ends at a well-tended vegetable patch edged with chives. Walk back past the soft fruit area and head towards the large stone trough to continue your visit through another wrought iron gate. 

You are now back in the first garden. Two pretty rockeries flank your path before you pass by the front door and its collection of cacti and succulents. Continue under the rose arch and along the raised beds past the imposing yews, and you'll arrive at the back door just in time for a chat with the owners. Afterwards, as you return to your car, don't forget to examine the stream-side planting, in particular the cheerful yellow skunk cabbage, or later in the season, the mass planting of pale pink Persicaria campanulata.

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