…..As Otis Redding might have said had he not been anywhere near the Dock of the Bay and instead had been in Warwickshire. This is a house that was converted from an old barn and has glorious 270 degree view without a pylon, a wind farm or any sort of eyesore within sight.
The problem is that any garden you make will always fade into insignificance against such a majestic vista. The solution is that, fortunately, there was also an enclosed courtyard in which we made a very special gravel garden packed with colour and texture. There is no particular planting plan as the idea was to make it as random as possible – just a collection of plants that go well together in whatever combination. The plans are all self supporting and are bred to be tough: they give a pretty spectacular display from spring to winter with topiary to add a touch of evergreen and an eruption of Iris reticulata in the early days of the new year.
On the other side of the house is a small herb garden – plants supplied by the Duchess herself, Jekka McVicar and finally, at least for the moment, we dug a very lovely lake which acts as a sort of naturalistic infinity pool above slopes swaying with wild flowers.
There is a good article by the excellent Kendra Wilson in House and Garden here.
Press Coverage
- Nature Nurtured ■ House and Gardens ■ October 20 ■ Words Kendra Wilson ■ Photographs Britt Willoughy Dyer
Photographs by Britt Willoughby-Dyer