Parsonage Farm

About Parsonage Farm

The garden’s design is based on an C18 concept of ferme ornee – or ornamental farm – with a large lake in a parkland style setting at the front of the house and more formal gardens behind with walks and vistas stretching out into the fields and woodlands. The garden (overall about 7 acres not counting fields and woods) is now reaching maturity as reflected in the many 12ft yew hedges which divide it into a number of formal and informal areas planted with carefully chosen colour themes and unusual plants. Avenues are quite a feature – some trained as hedges, pleached allees, hedges on stilts, lollipops – and some in a more natural style such as the tulip tree avenue and hundreds of metres of Holm oaks planted through new woodlands, and underplanted with mahonia, which lead up to a grand grass amphitheatre. To reflect the history of the village there is fruit planted in every area of the garden including many heritage and unusual varieties and a ¾ acre fruit and vegetable garden with flowers for cutting. Whilst the garden has been designed for visual pleasure and impact it is above all a family garden with a strong feeling of individuality and spirit of place. Featured in Country Life (Aug 2015) and described by former NGS Chairman as one of her three favourite gardens (The Telegraph Nov 2016). Recent developments include the yew cloisters, opening up a walk around a second lake and cutting rides through the woodland.