GARDENS TO VISIT
WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY, YOU’LL FIND PEOPLE WORKING WITH NATURE TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL AND SUSTAINABLE SPACES
1 THE GARDENS AT KNEPP West Grinstead, West Sussex
After fighting nature for years, Charlie Burrell decided to embrace it, turning his 3,500acre estate into a conservation project. Then, using what was learned from this, he and his team turned their attention to the gardens. Take a three-hour Rewild Your Garden Safari guided by one of the team, explore it on your own or wander the 16 miles of paths in the main project. knepp.co.uk
2 CANONTEIGN FALLS Christow, Devon
A Victorian fernery may not sound like the most eco-friendly place, but if you have a shady garden you’ll find plenty to admire in the recently restored Victorian fern garden at Canonteign – the variety of shades and textures is bound to inspire you. It’s set in a hanging valley above ancient woodland – carry on climbing to see the highest waterfall in the south west. canonteignfalls.co.uk
3 RHS HYDE HALL Rettendon, Essex
The Dry Garden at RHS Hyde Hall hasn’t been watered by anything other than rain for more than 20 years, and yet is awash with colour from spring to autumn. Then, in winter, the seed heads and grasses take centre stage, all the better when iced with frost – the Mediterranean-style planting flourishes in the sandy soil but will put up with an amount of cold. rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall
4 BLACK ISLE PERMACULTURE & ARTS Scottish Highlands
The kitchen, bog and forest gardens, ponds, woodland and meadows here are run on the closed-loop system – composting, mulching and recycling so nothing is wasted – and nodig methods are championed on this 2.5-acre site. Visiting by appointment is welcome; there are eco-cabins if you want to immerse yourself in the permaculture experience. blackislepermacultureandarts.co.uk
5 DYFFRYN FERNANT Fishguard, Pembrokeshire
If waterlogged ground is your problem, then visit this naturalistically planted series of delightful gardens set in moor and marshland for inspiration. In the bog garden, trial and error – thanks to the underlying blue clay, it was just too wet even for moisture-loving gunnera – has resulted in a lush and colourful area that needs little maintenance. dyffrynfernant.co.uk
6 MUKER MEADOWS Swaledale, Yorkshire
Given that 97 per cent of our wild-flower meadows have disappeared over the past century, it’s a joy to wander the path through these hay meadows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Plants to spot include the wonderfully named melancholy thistle, pignut and cat’s ear. It’s now part of the Coronation Meadows Project – visit the website to find one near you. coronationmeadows.org.uk