My Favourite Place: Stone House Co age Garden, Kidderminster

Stone House Cottage is a naturalistic garden for people who love plants; it’s definitely more about plants and colours than formal design.

I like it as it’s full of things that are possible for people to do in their own, smaller gardens. It’s not geared up as an attraction so much as to encourage experimentation and spark ideas.

It’s quite compact, only about an acre, but it seems much larger.

There’s a meadow and herbaceous borders, lots of interesting shrubs and an alpine area near the house. You could probably run around it in 15 minutes, but I take my time.

There are lots of follies with turrets

and the walls are covered in amazing, often tender, climbers.

I’ve discovered lots of varieties that I didn’t know and it has all the sorts of things I love, such as texture and foliage colour. In August the herbaceous borders are a delight, with harmonious colours and lovely combinations. I can picture it in my mind now.

Louisa Arbuthnott spends all her time gardening, with her lovely, big, friendly dogs alongside her.

They rush up to meet you, but I’m sure they really wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’m always impressed with the care that she lavishes upon that garden, it’s wonderfully looked after and very inspiring. Everything is cleverly staked but you can’t see the stakes so you’d never know. The garden really gives you something to aim for.

The nursery is a one-person event and everything is propagated on site.

It’s not neat and tidy like a garden centre, but you never know what you’re going to find and it’s such a joy to visit! I’ve had some wonderful plants from there, things that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

Stone House Cottage is a muchloved private garden and that makes it special.

There’s such a wonderful, otherworldly atmosphere – it’s calm and gentle and interesting, almost magical. I always come away feeling better.

■ Stone House Cottage Garden & Nurseries, Church Lane, Kidderminster, Worcs DY10 4BG; www.shcn.co.uk.