Orchard Cottage

About Orchard Cottage

The garden was begun in 1983 and was originally an apple orchard. There were a few outbuildings where goats had been kept, and some old fruit trees in long grass. We made beds by mowing around the trees, using the goat manure. Sadly, the old trees are no longer with us, but a new orchard of small, modern fruit trees has been planted. We garden with wildlife in mind. Pesticides are never used. Brambles, wild honeysuckle and hazels have been left in the old hedges for the dormice. Wanting to grow more tender plants, we designed and built a large greenhouse. Ten years later we were fortunate to be able to replace it with a single storey cottage and so moved into our orchard garden in 2019. Reshaping the land around the cottage, we have created a modern kitchen and cutting garden. Woodland at the top of the garden enables us to grow shade loving plants, which are especially beautiful in the spring. Roses form the backbone of the planting in summer, followed by hydrangeas in autumn. Winter blooming shrubs are underplanted with snowdrops and other early bulbs to give colour and scent in winter. Herbaceous perennials are a particular passion and provide interest throughout the year. Iris, peonies, umbellifers, salvias, and Persicaria are all favourites.