The 4 acre garden of neglected lawns, woodland, streams and orchard, surrounding a Grade 1 listed Victorian Gothic rectory needed a complete redesign.

A walled kitchen garden was created to form the first phase of a masterplan for the garden in the existing dilapidated orchard and a new orchard was planted with local heritage species of apple and pear. Flint walls to match the historic rectory were built and restored to level the site and form shelter for the kitchen garden. Fanned plums, figs and apricots were planted against the long south facing wall once used to support a Victorian peach greenhouse. Original rusted support hooks, steel ties and remnants of a once sophisticated plant support system were all left intact. Cobaea and old English roses softened the flint walls with late summer flowers. An upper walkway with deep sunken beds was designed to grow cut flowers. Hoggin cotswold chipping paths divided five large traditional style vegetable beds and separate enclosed fruit cage.  A Victorian style  ‘dipping pool', provided gentle sound and floating lily pads. Stepover espaliers were used to define the path to the lower meadow and woodland through an opening in the west wall.

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A main access path was designed to link the woodland, via an ancient stream to the meadow. Knarled, dense overgrown hazel was coppiced to reveal a view of the stream running along the lower bank where snow drops, primroses and bluebells were planted along its banks.

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Further work, included levelling sloping land behind the house to provide a terraced area for entertaining and relaxation. Borders were inserted into the limestone paved terrace and planted with floriferous perennials, and climbing roses. Flint stone steps were made to access a lower terrace croquet lawn which was surrounded by deep classical herbacious borders. 

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