Coveney & Wardy Hill Gardens

About Coveney & Wardy Hill Gardens

The parish of Coveney is a small upland Fen village on a clay ridge and a lower Hamlet on the black fen. A visit offers the prospects of visiting Four gardens of varying sizes and interest.

Whilst passing through the village of Coveney it is worthwhile savouring the magnificent view of Ely Cathedral on one side and our 13th century church and its ‘Wildlife Trust Churchyard Award’, that welcomes you. Then wandering past quaint and varied houses to the village Green and old Lock-up, with its animal ‘Pound’ beside the village pond.

‘The Secret Garden’, is a developing dream based on Japanese garden design and thinking. Its year by year development is an ever intriguing visit. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere as you enjoy a cup of tea and home-baked cakes.

2, School Lane, is gardened by retired plantswoman, Jane. Whilst the garden is small but packed with plants of which she know the name; indulge yourself! Take the time to have a detailed wander and go home with ideas you can use in any size garden.

3a, Main Street, is a colourful, wraparound garden with a large house. This has created a number of challenging areas, which have been skilfully handled to give many good ideas and food for thought.
The views ‘Over the Hedge’ are probably some of the best in the village and well worth a look.

‘Down the road’ lies the parish’s hamlet of Wardy Hill and the open gardens, here the soil is varied, from clay in some, to black soil over a sand base in others; thus the gardens offer a contrast.

The Green, 1a, is a new build and thus is on a soil base of Builder’s rubble and clay. The husband and wife team have developed a more modern style of planting and layout, to complement the house. First planted in 2022 it is surprisingly mature with arbours and pergolas giving interest to well shaped and placed herbaceous borders. The range of many unusual plants warrants careful viewing , it is definitely a lovely a garden that will be fun to see as it grow and matures. This year another bed has been added to entice and delight.

Drovers is a garden based on Chinese pleasure garden philosophy but with English naturalistic planting that wanders by a wildlife pond, beneath mature trees to a rose garden and potted terrace.

Over the drove lies an RSPB site for ground nesting birds and flood meadows that run along the banks of the New Bedford river and washes, giving lovely, dog friendly, fenland walks beside a wildfowl lake.

For those with energy left, you can play garden games, boule or horseshoes before restoring the sore of foot, with tea, that is included in the ticket price and Homemade cake, for a donation.

We hope you will enjoy an afternoon sharing our wonderful countryside and take as much pleasure as we do, in our gardens and all our parish has to offer, whilst supporting this worth while cause.
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