“The garden looks so magical in frost”

A thick hoar frost transforms this historic garden into an atmospheric wonderland. Head gardener Keith Churchward tells its story

A thick hoar frost transforms this historic garden into an atmospheric wonderland

You don’t need complicated plant lists to create an exciting garden. This magical space in Saffron Walden makes the most of a simple planting palette for dramatic winter structure, and its straightforward design is spellbinding. “The garden looks amazing after a thick hoar frost,” says Gardener-inCharge Keith Churchward, who works here as part of the gardening team of two. “One of its main attractions in winter is the geometric box parterre in the sunken Dutch Garden. It’s one of my favourite parts of the garden and was replanted to a design sketched by Gertrude Jekyll when she visited in 1912.”

Carved stone eagles on the gate piers, an ornate fountain, greenhouses and a small pavilion add architectural flourishes. “The garden was created around 1840 by local Quaker businessman, Francis Gibson,” explains Keith. “It’s an early Victorian pleasure garden comprising seven interlocking areas, each with its own distinct character. There are lots of carefully planned vistas too. Walking around the garden it’s as though you’re moving through different rooms.”

In 1918, the garden was leased to the local council and has been open to the public ever since. “Sadly, over time, it fell into neglect,” says Keith. “But an ambitious restoration project took place between 2003 and 2008 to bring it back from the brink. It’s now Grade II* listed.” Saffron Walden Town Council manages the garden with support from the Friends of Bridge End Gardens charity, overseen by Keith and his assistant Nathan Doe. “Our aim has always been to maintain the garden to the original plan from the 1840s and to a very high standard,” says Keith. “However, each year we make subtle improvements, concentrating on the finer details and taking a more ‘hands-on’

Lots of carefully planned vistas provide surprises at every turn

FROSTED FORMS This sunken parterre in the Dutch Garden was planted to a design sketched by Gertrude Jekyll on a visit in 1912. Yew columns at the far end, and fastigiate yews clipped into a shaving brush design, flank the box beds on either side. The neat box hedging frames beds of Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald n Gold’ and Salvia officinalis