8 FAVOURITE PLANTS

1 Brassica oleracea var. italica ‘Early Purple Sprouting’ Saving their own seed is fundamental to how Sue and Ian grow at Nant-y-Bedd, and they allow some brassica flowers to set seeds for planting the following year. 90cm x 60cm. 2 Iris sibirica Sue loves this iris for its spring strip of vibrant blue in one of the garden’s boggy areas. 90cm x 40cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b†. 3 Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ This decorative cow parsley adds frothy umbellifers for pollinators. Sue uses it throughout the potager and in containers with spring bulbs. 1m x 60cm. RHS H6.

4 Saxifraga ‘Knapton Pink’ A spreading evergreen perennial that produces masses of rose-pink flowers above mounds of fresh-green foliage. 20cm x 25cm. 5 Galium odoratum A magnet for bees and other insects, sweet woodruff makes a scented and extremely pretty groundcover. Its dried foliage is excellent for flavouring custards. 20cm x 35cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. 6 Pentaglottis sempervirens Grown in the Potager Garden, this is a perfect foil for the purple honesty (Lunaria annua) and ‘Ravenswing’ flowers in spring. Foliage can then be cut right down for a second flush later. Flowers are edible if somewhat tasteless. 50-80cm x 50cm-1m.

7 Rumex sanguineus Harvested in spring, the young leaves make a tart and lemony addition to salads and sandwiches. A welcome self-seeder, it contains oxalic acid so avoid eating too much. 30cm x 30cm. 8 Papaver cambricum Both yellow and orange Welsh poppies grow here. A wonderful self-seeder popping up in unexpected places. Tolerant of shade. Considered native (or possibly a garden escapee) in this part of Wales. Just allow them to seed around and welcome the spontaneity of the pops of brightness that they introduce. 30-45cm x 30cm. RHS H6, USDA 7a-8b.

*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.

Sue and Ian’s intuitive approach to making a garden comes from years of observation and trial, and though the hand of the gardener is evident, it often feels secondary

Straddled within a veteran sycamore nestles a two-storey tree house constructed by Dan Tuckett out of sweet chestnut and larch. A steep climb up to the top ‘yoga deck’ rewards you with views through woodland towards pasture, a picnic meadow and the gushing Grwyne Fawr river.