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By the Crossways

A three acre wildlife garden designed as a garden within a working organic farm where wilderness areas lie next to productive beds. Large semi-walled vegetable and cutting garden and a spectacular crinkle-crankle wall. Extensive perennial planting, grasses and wild and uneven areas.

Owner Info

By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways
By the Crossways

About By the Crossways

Since a major redevelopment over a decade ago, By The Crossways has evolved into a well-rounded family and wildlife friendly garden that reflects much of the ethical philosophy and aims of the owners. This is a garden designed to look good at any season and on any day of the year.

The garden is surrounded by traditional farm hedgerows and numerous mature trees, both ornamental and native. Many more trees and shrubs have been planted recently, some of which are pruned as topiary or to extend internal hedges and divisions. A few large dead trees are being left to rot and collapse naturally over time and have become interesting features in their own right. Much of the planting can be described as loosely naturalistic, blending perennials, bulbs and grasses with ornamental shrubs into a matrix which changes in emphasis over the seasons. Much of this new planting is also designed to blend seamlessly into the natural organic farm landscape of Maple Farm Kelsale. Familiar garden plants jostle with their wild cousins and weeds are welcome if they add to the rich visual tapestry. The ‘lawns’ have quite a complex and variable mowing regime.

A swimming pool garden and crinkle-crankle wall planted with many heat and drought tolerant plants as well as unusual fruiting trees and shrubs add interest and contrast to the wilder areas. A large utility area is given over to vegetables and soft fruit and an old orchard has had new trees recently planted in an ongoing rejuvenation programme. An increasing range of cut-flowers are also being grown, many of which are sold in Maple Farm’s small farm shop.

By the Crossways features

Location details

By the Crossways,
Saxmundham,
Suffolk,
IP17 2PL

Directions to By the Crossways
½m N of town centre, turn R to Theberton on Clayhills Rd. After 1½m, 1st L to Kelsale, turn L immed after white cottage.

By the Crossways openings

This garden has now completed its National Garden Scheme openings for this year.

Accessibility

  • The garden is mostly flat, with paved or gravel pathways around the main house, a few low steps and extensive grass paths and lawns.
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FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at By the Crossways at this time.

Yes, dogs are welcome at By the Crossways. Please keep the dogs on fixed short leads in the garden and keep in mind that you are responsible for controlling the dog’s behaviour. For any specific rules please ask the owners.

There are no plants for sale for the time being.

Yes, one or more routes at By the Crossways are accessible to wheelchair users.

Yes. By the Crossways seeks to offer a sustainable refuge for nearby fauna and wildlife. These sanctuaries host diverse habitats supporting indigenous flora and fauna and nurturing local biodiversity.