Get a taste of the Orient

Create your own authentic Japanese-themed garden at home!

Here in Britain, we’ve been trying to emulate peaceful, Zen-like Japanese gardens, with their distinctive features and simple, serene feel, for many decades. A wonderful example is concealed within the privatelyowned gardens at Compton Acres, where one of the country’s oldest and most spectacular Japanese gardens resides. Built in the 1920s, the original owner was inspired by his travels to the gardens of Kyoto, to build his own Japanese Garden on a stretch of Dorset heathland overlooking Poole Harbour. Employing architects and workers from Japan, he ensured the authenticity of his Japanese Garden. Nearly 100 years later the garden’s carefully-selected Japanese elements endure, thanks to continued care and expert maintenance. Celebrating their achievements, here experts at Compton Acres give a useful gardening insight to help you capture some of the key elements of the Japanese garden at home.