4. Warren Cottage

We have been gardening at Warren Cottage for 10 years now.  It was partly the garden that sold us on the house, but we did feel very inexperienced especially compared to our predecessors.  When we bought the house there were two gardens separated by a severe wooden fence running parallel to the brick path.  We still have yew hedges and the yew arch but there was much more yew originally making the front of the house quite dark, especially when we saw it in the pouring rain.  

The part of the garden closest to the field had been hard landscaped and we have left the shape mainly unchanged although we have combined our planting with some lovely original shrubs and trees.  The side nearer the road, including the “island bed” you see as you come in and now the pond, is all new.

We are lucky to have amazing views over the field and particularly like looking at the changing skies. We have lots of places we can, but don’t often enough, sit in the garden.  One of our favourite spots is in the side of our 18th Century barn which has a delightfully wonky but thankfully largely watertight roof which has survived the storms – so far.  The barn’s claim to fame is that Aquila Clapshaw, who made cricket bats including one used by Prince Albert when he played at Lords, used it as his workshop

Since we have started gardening here we have tried to encourage wildlife as much as possible, whilst still keeping a bit of grass to offset the flowers.  We always aim to select insect friendly flowers and this year we have added a pond.  It has been something we have long wanted to do but didn’t think we had the place for it. 

Dave has done a great job with very challenging levels!  We are now having fun planting up in and around it.  It has completely changed that side of the garden and is very soothing to sit and watch.  We hope you will come and see for yourselves.

We look forward to welcoming you.