2. Old Brewery House

We moved into the house in late 2009, not expecting to spend 3 years making it safe to live in. We then turned to dealing with “The Lost Garden”. Clearing mountains of ivy and dozens of collapsed trees, we found the “rat-trap” bond wall and the foundations of the old brewery, which we have reflected in the oak pergola.

We replanted an orchard where one had existed for over 200 years and created a pond in a natural dip for wildlife diversity. Great Crested Newts have already colonised it.

The gardens divides into four areas:

  • The front garden with a formality dictated by the old yew topiary. A wonderful weeping ash at least 120 years old and now, sadly, in the last stages of its life housing a wild bee colony. This colony swarms at least once a year and the bees are taken to start new wild bee colonies in Hampshire and Surrey
  • The main garden, which was the walled yard of the old brewery, has mainly herbaceous planting and the newly established rose pergola.
  • The field with newly laid native hedging, hazel coppice and luxurious accommodation for a small band of chickens.
  • The orchard with several native mature trees, fruit trees and vegetable garden with a productive greenhouse. 
Our Productive Greenhouse
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Wild Bees!

Newly laid native hedging