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Five Oaks Cottage

An acre of delicate jungle surrounding an Arts and Crafts style cottage (not open) with stunning views of the South Downs. Our unconventional garden is designed to encourage maximum wildlife with a knapweed and hogweed meadow on clay attracting clouds of butterflies, plus two small ponds and lots of seating.

Owner Info

Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage
Five Oaks Cottage

About Five Oaks Cottage

A delicate jungle surrounding a pretty, Arts and Crafts style, Reginald Fairfax Wells cottage. Once home to Mabel Constanduros, actress and radio celebrity of the 1940’s, it is now home to Jean & Steve Jackman, founders of The Floral Fringe Wildlife Fair. Jean is an artist/plantswoman and Steve has filled the garden with his handmade metal plant supports, gates and much more besides.

Situated on a hidden hill, with mature oaks and stunning views of the South Downs National Park, this is an award winning organic garden that has featured in many magazines. It is designed to encourage maximum wildlife, with a knapweed meadow on clay, attracting clouds of butterflies. As you might expect, there is also an organically managed vegetable garden, and chickens.

The soil is strongly acidic clay and supports amazing turquoise hydrangeas!

Described by visitors as having a ‘magical atmosphere of estimable shagginess’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘creative’, there is also an idiosyncratic collection of artefacts throughout the garden, RSPB artificial house-martin nests and an owl box.

Self seeding is encouraged, and there are lots of biennials and wildflowers mixed in the borders with shrubs and perennials. Bamboos are pruned to show off the beauty of the culms.

Follow us on Instagram: @floralfringefair

Delicious home baked cakes and tea £5 per person.

Please note SatNav does not work – for printed directions, please email [email protected] or call 07939 272443

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Five Oaks Cottage features

Location details

Five Oaks Cottage,
Petworth,
Sussex,
RH20 1HD

Directions to Five Oaks Cottage
What3words app: partly.fuzzy.rashers. SatNav does not work! To ensure best route, we provide printed directions, please email [email protected] or call 07939 272443.

Five Oaks Cottage openings

For this open day you need to pre-book your ticket in advance. To book tickets please click on the book button below.

Refreshments Home-made teas (cash only).
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

For this open day you need to pre-book your ticket in advance. To book tickets please click on the book button below.

Refreshments Home-made teas (cash only).
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

For this open day you need to pre-book your ticket in advance. To book tickets please click on the book button below.

Refreshments Home-made teas (cash only).
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-16:30

For this open day you need to pre-book your ticket in advance. To book tickets please click on the book button below.

Refreshments Home-made teas (cash only).
Admission Adult: £6.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-16:30

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair access difficult.
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FAQs

Payment is by cash only. Please get in touch with the owners for more details.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at Five Oaks Cottage at this time.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

There are no plants for sale for the time being.

Sorry, Five Oaks Cottage does not yet accommodate wheelchair users.

Yes. Five Oaks Cottage 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.