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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An award-winning, organic garden with a magical atmosphere.