“Pruning is the secret to good structure”

Lines are crisp and silhouettes clean in this historic Hertfordshire garden

Few gardens are as exciting to explore as this little gem in Leeds. “It’s an Arts & Crafts garden built by the Spencer family,” explains head gardener Ben Preston. “The Spencers bought the property back in 1951 and took inspiration from other Arts & Crafts gardens at Hestercombe and Hidcote. “The initial layout was the work of Fred Spencer, who died aged just 56, in 1963. His wife Sybil and son Robin carried on its development and design, creating new features, views and vistas as they went along. York Gate was bequeathed to the horticultural trade charity, Perennial, by Sybil Spencer when she died in 1994.” Following the Arts & Crafts tradition, the garden is divided into rooms using tall beech VIEWS & VISTAS (clockwise from above left) A garden gate designed by Robin Spencer; York Gate House, which now houses the tea room; the herb garden with box spirals, yew hedges and sails beyond; the Miniature Pinetum, with Pinus monticola ‘Contorta’ and Pinus sylvestris ‘Aurea’; the nut walk – a hazel tunnel with galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ and holly and yew hedges, each room flowing from one area to the next by a series of long vistas and focal points. “The design is really clever,” says Ben. “It’s amazingly cohesive when you consider it was all created piecemeal, room by room, without any overall plan. “There are 14 rooms in total, and when new visitors ask me where to start, I tell them to take the small path just by the front gate, between the yucca and the golden yew buns, then just follow your feet. Head toward whatever catches your eye. Then, turn round and walk back again. You’ll see a whole lot of other things you missed on the outward journey. It’s always an exciting place to explore, whatever the time of year.”

The path will lead you round the garden – just follow your feet