Brook Cottage Garden

The 4-acre garden has been formed by an architect and a plantswoman since 1964 on the west facing slope of a valley. Originally the site comprised a paved courtyard surrounded on three sides by the 17th century Hornton stone house and barn. Below was a paddock and the Sor Brook forming the western boundary. Beyond to the south was open country. Particular limitations of the site were an alkaline pH, precluding the growing of ericaceous plants in the open ground, and frost pocket conditions.

To 'settle' the house into a garden setting, beds were made along its walls. The yard outside the barn became a lawn with a wide border, now planted with blue and white agapanthus interspersed with kniphofias in shades of lemon and lime. The barn was converted and a large garden room is used for visitors' refreshments.

A wide variety of plants is grown, some rare, to cover a long season starting with sheets of snowdrops, daffodils and crocus from January to April, followed by Japanese double white cherry blossom in May. The pond and bog plants are at their best in early June, followed by the roses. Dwarf shrubs and some Alpines are grown in a small gravel garden, and a number of the borders are colour co-ordinated: soft shades of pink and blue in one, rich magenta and purples in another. The 30' white and silver border is seen against a yew hedge, while the yellow border is backed by the hedge of copper beech.

Over 50 varieties of clematis scramble over stone walls, shrubs and around the tennis court, many late flowering from July onwards, when the herbaceous perennials come into their own and continue giving interest until the season ends with hips, berries and autumn colour. The diversity of planting is supplemented by tender perennials displayed in numerous ornamental containers. All the wooden furniture is specially designed and hand-made.

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