✿ Cottage plot inspired by rugged landscapes

Cottage-style planting helps to soften this rugged garden inspired by walking holidays. Owner Melvin Gore treats us to a tour

“We used to love walking in Scotland and the Peaks... and drew inspiration from there”

Few gardens have such innate appeal as this little gem in Hertfordshire. Inspired by the rugged landscape of Scotland and Derbyshire, owners Maureen and Melvin Gore have created a dramatic garden full of rocky ravines softened with cottage-style planting. “It was a derelict mess when we first moved here 40 years ago,” says Melvin. “The whole garden was dominated by rotting wooden sheds, with corrugated iron strewn all around and hardly any soil to speak of – just bare clay.” The couple spent several years renovating their derelict house before they could turn their attention to the garden. “I was itching to get started on it,” says Melvin. “At first we had a lawn for the children to play on, then added a pond. But as we got more interested in gardening we began to add more plants and borders and became quite ambitious with the landscaping.” Fast-forward 40 years and the garden has become a celebration of the great outdoors. “We used to love walking in Scotland and the Peak District and drew inspiration from the incredible landscapes there – the lakes and mountains,” says Melvin. “I decided to build ravines and valleys here in the garden as a backdrop for the planting, and bought in about five tonnes of grey Westmoreland stone. “Overseas trips to Japan, China and India have inspired us too – we’ve created several ponds and cascading waterfalls, as well as rockeries and mini scree gardens. We’ve worked hard, but I look back now and I’m really pleased with what we’ve done.” Rather than attempt to work the heavy clay soil, Melvin lugged in sacks and sacks of topsoil – offering a far more forgiving place for his favourite alpines to grow. “Our approach is not to worry too much about planning the planting schemes,” says Melvin. “We choose our shrubs and flowers on impulse. I do think you should grow what you like and plant your garden for

yourself – you’ll enjoy it much more that way! I take my planting inspiration from the wild – seeing the conditions wild plants like to grow in then recreating them here in the garden. Wild planting is much easier to maintain than a formal garden.” Melvin’s favourites for the front garden include dahlias, which offer a riot of colour from now until autumn. In the back garden are Himalayan poppies (Meconopsis betonicifolia) growing among spires of delphiniums and lupins. Smouldering orange lupin ‘Towering Inferno’ contrasts with the regal purple of ‘Masterpiece’. Also in flower in early summer is salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’, a bushy perennial with vivid magenta blooms and a citrussy scent. Foliage plants help set off the rising spires, from delicate ferns to the exotic podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’, with its bold, chocolate-brown spotted leaves. The garden reveals its treasures at every turn. “We’ve got bonsai, succulents, grasses and billowing hydrangeas,” says Melvin. “We have fragrant roses too, such as the climber ‘Warm Welcome’ and a tumbling ‘Rambling Rector’ rose, whose white flowers smell amazing.” For structure the garden is dotted by Japanese maples. “They’re my favourite trees,” says Melvin. “I have 10 of them. I just love the colour and shape. They’re slowgrowing and have beautiful foliage and really come into their own in autumn.” The garden enjoys its fair share of visitors – including wildlife. “We also have visits from the local pheasant population, which have been known to enjoy a nibble of my tulips, herons on the hunt for my fish, and even a muntjac deer. “At this time of year, I’m outdoors all the time,” says Melvin. “I get up at 7am and get stuck into some weeding and chopping back. It feels never-ending in summer but I do enjoy it. The delphiniums are just going over in late June, but the pots are full of colour now. The begonias and the poppies are absolutely beautiful.” COLOURFUL CHARACTER (clockwise from above) Pink and white primulas jostle beside an old stump; the Japanese garden, with Solomon’s seal and ligularia; Melvin’s collection of vintage tools; foxgloves with fennel; a rustic style Melvin curates a wonderful collection of antique gardening tools, which he reckons must be one of the largest in the country. “It all started with a shovel,” he says. “Then I began collecting bits and pieces from auctions and farm fairs. There’s quite a lot of unusual stuff in there: multi-shears, syringes, trowels and spades made especially for clay. Most were made by blacksmiths and are still going strong. They never go wrong – not like the chuckaway plastic stuff you get nowadays.” Melvin also counts 28 lawnmowers among his collection. “But I’m still after a vintage cucumber straightener. I’ve looked all over but I can’t seem to find one!”