My Favourite Place: Sudeley Castle
When I was a child, we used to go to Sudeley Castle for the afternoon. You drive through the lovely village of Winchcombe, along a lane and over a little bridge to get there. They had jousting competitions, which was always exciting! Then, when I went back to university as a mature student, to do a degree in environmental management, I worked there to pay the bills.
I love the air of tranquillity about it, and that there’s time to take it all in as there aren’t too many visitors. It has a really personal quality because Lady Ashcombe and the Dent-Brocklehurst family still live there, and there are great views of the house across the nice manicured lawn.
There is a chapel where Catherine Parr, wife of Henry VIII, is interred and you go through a gap into a walled Secret Garden. There are two cotinus, one at each end, and when they’re in full froth they’re quite spectacular!
The garden is arranged so it takes you on a journey along the front of the house and through the wooded areas. At this time of year there are great carpets of Anemone blanda and in the summer the grass grows long and natural. Then, from the terrace there’s a wonderful view onto the surrounding countryside.
It was invaluable to get an understanding of the spaces; discover how you can divide a garden into different areas with different feels. There’s a marriage of formal knot gardens and woodland, as well as the sunny and shady areas around the tythe barn.
A fabulous ‘Kiftsgate’ rose covers a ruined structure to the rear of the house. It grows up and over the stonework and cascades downwards, almost like a curtain when it’s in full flower.
It brings back fond memories.
It's the freshness and vigour of spring that sticks in my mind. It was part of my childhood, but also part of my career move into garden design.
■ Sudeley Castle & Gardens, Winchcombe, Glos GL54 5JD; www.sudeleycastle.co.uk.