Having lived less than an hours drive from this garden for years I visited this summer for the first time. I’m now rather obsessed with the garden and made a second visit a few weeks later.
Woolbeding House and garden is managed by The National Trust and I’m not sure why it isn’t better known because it’s a real gem.
There are two distinct parts to the garden, a large garden near the house that’s sub-divided into different areas by Yew hedges and mellow old walls,
there are intriguing glimpses through to different parts of the garden that propel you on to explore.
with colourful borders
and beautiful flowers.
The second part of the garden is reached through pasture land, where you find a splendid summer-house and grotto complete with River God.
The garden has been professionally designed over the years by a number of designers, most notably the American landscape architect Lanning Roper and later by Isabel and Julian Bannerman, who were involved in the design of the garden at Highgrove House, Prince Charles’s home.
Apart from the impeccable design and beautiful planting, it has a very relaxed atmosphere, you can take a picnic (though there is a lovely cafe) and loung around on the many chairs and benches around the garden.
The garden is open untill the end of September, then closed untill April next year, you have to pre-book your visit, all the details are here.
The house isn’t open, but you probably wouldn’t have time to look round it anyway because there are so many wonderful things to see in the garden.
The herb garden at Woolbeding was featured in an earlier post.
Jill
all images: Jill Anderson.
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