Main features and highlights

Among the mature trees, which include birches, eucalyptus, a range of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, perennials and bulbs have been planted to provide interest throughout the year. In early spring, daffodils and brunneras are a highlight, while flowering cherries and a magnolia can be admired here during April and May. An area in the vicinity of a tall narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) and two strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) has been planted with a number of shrubs and perennials with scented flowers such as winter-flowering honeysuckle, Daphne, philadelphus, and sarcococca and is now known as the Fragrant Garden.

The Winter Border on the left, past the Caucasian Wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), contains plants that flower between November and March. Many of the shrubs and herbaceous plants have evergreen foliage, colourful bark or an attractive structure and some are scented or have persistent fruits. Shrubs include winter flowering honeysuckle, cultivars of Euonymus fortunei, and corkscrew hazel. Others like the dogwoods and willows are coppiced regularly.

The Green Border, which is opposite the Winter Border, has large Persian ironwoods (Parrotia persica) on one end and Malus sargentii on the other. Many of the plants were selected to show diversity of foliage texture and colour throughout the year. They include bamboo, bananas, evergreen viburnum and aucubas as well as perennials such as bergenias, euphorbias, Hemerocallis and hostas. Hydrangeas add colour in late summer and early autumn.

The Ornamental Orchard, to the left of the path, contains a collection of ornamental crab-apples and includes cultivars and species with blossom ranging from white to deep pink. The spring blossom is followed by good autumn foliage and fruits. Beneath the trees, snowdrops, striped squill, crocus, narcissus and snake’s head fritillary together with wild flowers such as cowslips and ox-eye daisies provide a delightful tapestry from January to early summer.

The Stream Bed was planted following the outline of the old stream, introducing a huge splash of colour and movement in an area alive with pollinating insects, and encouraging visitors to interact with the planting via a number of natural stone bridges. The area was seeded with wide variety of meadow species.

The pond itself was transformed into a new Damp Garden, planted with flowering shrubs, trees and ferns that can tolerate seasonal flooding. A huge Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata), a champion tree, can be found in this area as well as a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) and two swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum). To reflect the origin of the trees already present, all the new plants are near-native selections from North Eastern America.

The Formal Borders comprise a number of garden ‘rooms’ and borders of various sizes that are partly enclosed by hedges of beech and yew. The Borders are divided into a number of broadly themed areas:

The Jungle Garden, adjacent to Pepper Lane, was established to create the impression of walking through a tropical garden, but using mainly frost-tolerant plants. The mature trees already established here, including many different varieties of holly and eucalyptus, give shelter from wind and frost.

Plants with bold leaves and foliage which give an exotic effect have already been planted here. These include bamboos, palms, bananas, ginger lilies, kniphofia, fatsias, cannas, crocosmia, and other perennials.

At the end of the Jungle Garden, beside the new path, are two small beds, with a Cornus kousa ‘Ormande’ and small rowan trees. One bed has spring-flowering bulbs, and the other is covered in summer and autumn by blue Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

The Woodland Borders have spring and summer flowering shrubs, shade-tolerant bulbous plants, herbaceous perennials and ferns, which have been added among the original trees. Drifts of snowdrops, wood anemones and bluebells carpet the ground.

As this area matures it will provide much of interest for the visitor. The adjacent Rhododendron Border was planted in spring 2013. There are rhododendrons and evergreen azaleas on one side and mainly deciduous azaleas on the other. They provide colour in April and May. This border also contains hostas, ferns, daphne and Japanese acer.

Recent development of the area has seen the introduction of a new woodchip path and 10,000 bulbs including a variety of crocus, daffodils, and Leucojum.

The area for the Gravel Garden was cleared in March 2012. Two large eucalyptus trees were retained, and a beech hedge was planted along the boundary. New trees such as Cercis siliquatrum and a young Abies marocana have been added.

The underplanting consists of borderline tender plants such as Aloe striatula and Fascicularia bicolor, linked together with other perennials such as euphorbias, gingers, sedums and ornamental grasses that give structure and texture throughout the year and are attractive to bees and butterflies.