The theatrical garden
Skills honed in the theatre world have been used to transform an old quarry in a Wiltshire village into a show stealer, says Sue Bradley
Creating a garden with the ‘wow’ factor but without the need for labour-intensive maintenance has always been the main goal of Paul Minter and Michael Weldon.
their theatrical background means they’re used to achieving fabulous visual effects, and they’ve put this knowledge to good use when sculpting ‘rooms’ within the long and narrow plot behind their Victorian cottage in the Wiltshire village of Hannington.
Key to the garden’s success was the early realisation that terracing and accessible flights of steps would be vital to tame its slope – a throwback to the site’s earlier history as a quarry.
and while this work took several weeks and wasn’t cheap, Paul says it was money well spent.
“Steps were vital to tame the slope”
“there were some retaining walls, but there was still quite a slope,” he explains. “Having done the reshaping work, my admiration for Louis XiV and what his gardeners achieved at Versailles skyrocketed.
“the garden is now so much easier to manage. Previously, it was taking us four hours just to mow the grass and neaten the flower beds.”
Paul and Michael designed their terracing to allow for a circular lawn in the middle of the plot, the centre of which is pierced by a 6ft (1.8m)-deep pool topped with a fountain.
“Creating a circle at the widest point of the garden has really changed the general perception of our outside space,” explains Paul, a costume designer-turned-art teacher. “Previously, it looked like a bowling alley, but now it looks much wider.”
While an air of formality dominates this section – a mood accentuated by a low box hedge used to soften the brick wall behind – the banks sloping away from it are planted with a profusion of roses, shrubs and perennials that combine to provide a blowsy and romantic setting. these merge effortlessly with the wilder feel of the garden’s summit, which lies 600ft (183m) above sea level and enjoys glorious views of Lechlade and Highworth.
Closer to the house is a paved terrace, which was in place when Paul and Michael moved in five years ago,
and over time they’ve used bricks and various pots of plants to experiment with different layouts to make the most of this low-lying space.
“We started off with a square, but it bothered me that the retaining wall behind it was curved andit took me time to realise that a circular bed would fit the space better. It seems so obvious now, but it is a good example of not rushing a decision,” says Paul.
Many of the shrubs, roses and perennials in the garden were in place when Paul and Michael arrived. These were supplemented by plants from their previous garden, along with subsequent purchases, such as a trio of ‘Jacquemontii’ birch trees that provide a year-round focal point on one of the banks, and a vibrant
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’, the autumnal colours of which benefit from the exposed nature of the site.
Other additions include a stair rail and accompanying florally inspired metalwork, fashioned by Andrew Findlay from Eastnor Castle Forge, which make the first flight of steps safer to use in icy conditions and help soften the brickwork.
Paul and Michael say they’re happy to take their time over the garden, elements of which are inspired by Lawrence Johnston’s creation at Hidcote in the Cotswolds.
“We’ve tried to reflect some of Hidcote’s subtleties here, such as formality and abundant planting,” explains Michael, a costume supervisor for films and TV. “For us, it’s all about the visual appeal – it’s like working on a giant flower arrangement.”