TO THE MANOR ADORNED

A hidden delight of a garden in the grounds of a secluded, Grade-I listed Cotswolds manor house is a treasure trove of hanging woodland, grassy riverside glades, crisp topiary and informal wildflower plantings

Deep in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, an ancient manor house of many gables has nestled beside the River Coln since the late 16th century, when it was built by a wealthy wool merchant. The best view, of rolling lawn and ribbons of planting easing their way down to the riverside, can be had from the sunny, southfacing, reclaimed York stone terrace by the house. In spring, the terrace comes to life with myriad miniature daffodils and delicate early irises; prostrate rosemary flows from copper pots and blue muscari bursts forth between paving cracks. A line of Tulipa ‘Negrita’ along the edge brings a pop of warm purple to cool, bright days.

As with many classic English gardens, topiary is a notable feature, grounding the planting. On the lower terrace, an old stone sundial is protected by four small domes of firethorn and four large outer golden yews. Lower down, two standard weeping pears, Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’, stand sentinel where the terrace borders meet the lawn, keeping an eye on a gaggle of bright-pink tulips below. Beyond, clipped yew and box shapes tower over everything, drawing the eye up and out to the rest of the garden.

The borders that emanate from the terrace ripple away in waves rather than strict straight lines, softening the background structure of terraces and walls. These serpentine beds are packed with shrubs and perennials, with a succession of year-round interest. They edge a sumptuous lawn that slopes gently down to the river bank, and breezy clusters of bobbing daffodils.

Across the fast-flowing water, on the opposite bank, stands a stately stone summerhouse with a tented hip roof. It was built exactly in line with the door of the house and acts as a focal point at the end of the garden, as well as a good place to enjoy summer garden parties. A high ridge rears up behind it, creating a steep woodland that encloses the garden.

It is on this far bank of the river that the summerhouse terrace gives way to a series of groves and copses, with vast swathes of spring-flowering bulbs lighting up the shade under the trees. There is a tapestry of snowdrops and winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) to start the year, followed by broad drifts of common primroses and striped squill (Puschkinia scilloides), and then a carpet of pheasant’s eye daffodils. Snake’s head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris),

The best view, of rolling lawn and ribbons of planting easing their way down to the riverside, can be had from the sunny, south-facing, terrace by the house

and countless tulips in shades of cream, pink and maroon, jostle under specimen acers and blossoming cherry trees.

These naturalised schemes are what successfully link the more formal elements of the garden near the house to the surrounding land, blending the edges of the contrasting areas, from the cultivated borders and formal lawn to the wilder riverside and woodland. As you make your way around, you find unexpected spaces to explore and surprises round every corner, through gates or sheltering beyond shrubby camouflage: a secret, traditional walled garden with an oak pergola harbouring a dramatic, sunken quatrefoil at its centre; a circular garden ringed with low yew hedging, featuring a pink granite memorial surrounded by a sea of white iris; a small wooden bridge over the water leading to a floating ‘barge’ bog garden.

This is a masterclass in design and planting to create delight in all who tread its paths.

Below In the walled garden, the weathered timber pergolas that line two sides of the walkway are covered in climbing roses and clematis. The sunken central section in the quatrefoil shape features a large, octagonal metal planter.

Above Pink tulips line the steps from the terraces down to the lawn, beneath the cool grey-green foliage of a pair of weeping pears (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’) clipped into mushroom standards. Alchemilla mollis threads its way between the pavers.

Below The undulating wildflower walk, planted with thousands of Fritillaria meleagris and tulips in shades of dark burgundy, snakes under an Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’, splendid in its deep-purple spring regalia.

Above The summer house and its sun-filled terrace are the final elements of formality before the garden segues into a more naturalised feel surrounded by swathes of daffodils and other spring bulbs that extend down from the bank of woodland behind.

The terrace by the house has stone troughs of bulbs and flowering rosemary, with early irises and muscari between the pavers, and tulips lining the wall. The garden features topiary including four golden yews and large, ancient box and yew forms clipped into amorphous shapes.

The old stone sundial is flanked by clipped Pyracantha domes. It lines up perfectly along the axis from the back door, down the steps and lawn, and across the river to the extraordinary summerhouse.