Sandhill Farm House

About Sandhill Farm House

Although only just over an acre, and divided into 2 gardens lying on either side of the house, there are many different, contrasting and inspirational areas within this small space. A compulsive plant collector, Rosemary Alexander VMM (Rhs), (Principal and owner of the English Gardening School) has amassed interesting and unusual groupings of plants for each area. Approached by an opening cut through a beech hedge there is a green and white border with topiarised Phillyrea, a wide gravel path is edged with Box balls, thyme, Helianthemum and Rosemarinus, ending in a large leaf border with a red Chinese style bird table. A lavender hedge separates this part of the garden from the woodland area below, with a new stumpery and a collection of snowdrops, ferns and plants chosen for their varied leaf forms and spring and autumn colour. A newly planted border flanks the porch and terrace area. The China rose R. ‘Crimson Bengal’, which flowers 9 months of year and R. Pierre de Ronsard are planted by porch door. The rear garden has a potager and small summerhouse, a grasses border, plus double borders with the weeping pear Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’, half standard Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ and perennials in orange and red colours inspired by the brick wall behind. Cottage area planted with 3 native Acer campestre and multi-stemmed Betula (Silver Birch). Wildlife boundary hedge.

Garden featured in The Garden RHS magazine (Feb 2013) written by Andy Sturgeon, photos by Marianne Majerus; 2011 edition of Saga magazine written by Vanessa Berridge, photos by Clive Nicholls; Gardens Illustrated (Sept 2010), written by Matt Wilson, and book Female Gardeners with photos by Elke Borkowski 2016

For further details use the English Gardening School website www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk.

Snowdrop day on Sun 11th Feb. Home of author and principal of The English Gardening School.