43 Mardley Hill

About 43 Mardley Hill

We bought the house in 2008 in order to create a new garden together. Although located at the top of Mardley Hill it feels quite secluded due to the sounding trees and because the ground level is lower than the neighbouring properties on two sides, a legacy of the land’s former use for gravel extraction. The soil is a good loam which is very free-draining in some areas.

We began by digging a pond and used the existing slope at the back of the garden to create a rocky stream tumbling into it. A powerful pump continually circulates the water. Over time we removed overgrown shrubs and developed different areas, each with distinct types of planting depending on the soil, light and moisture conditions, which ranges from very sunny and free-draining to dry shade. Although the plants differ, the curvaceous borders flow into one another and are linked together by a repetition of foliage colours and textures. We plant in layers and fill every space with a mix of shrubs, perennials, bulbs and climbers to provide a constantly changing patchwork. We love unusual plants and we are always experimenting.

We find that visitors stay for quite a while, viewing the garden from the different seating angles and levels. The outdoor armchairs overlooking the pond are always a popular spot. There are many quirky and unusual features in the garden to look out for.

The different planting areas include: a sunny border with grasses, alliums and honesty; partly shaded banks with a magnolia, dicentra, moisture loving ferns and aquilegia; three white-stemmed birches underplanted with spring bulbs, epimediums, painted ferns and an increasing collection of choice and rare woodland plants such as podophyllum and trilliums; a raised slate bed planted with alpines; a man-made bog area with large-leaved plants such as gunnera and rodgersia; a small wildflower patch around an old apple tree; the main patio with an increasing range of potted exotics including aeoniums.

We are also Plant Heritage Plant Guardians for two garden-worthy plants that are rare in cultivation. Photographs on display illustrate the garden transformation since 2009 and we label many of the unusual plants. A chicken coop features in one of the beds.

We never stop developing the garden or changing the planting, so there is always something new to see. During the pandemic we built a small writing room with views across the garden. We offer generous portions of delicious home-made cakes and scones, all served on vintage china, with 90% of the proceeds going directly to Rennie Grove Peace Hospice in St Albans (10% to the NGS). We sell plants that we have grown from seed, cuttings or division, so the selection differs each year

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