The Orchards

About The Orchards

The Orchards’ garden was originally laid out in the 1930s and you can see the extremely ambitious vision the original Arts and Crafts designers had, which appears to be an entire landscape on a 2 acre hillside. This is a family garden, self managed by the owner, so is a relaxed garden and a work in progress. The changes in the coming years will be gradual but will mean something new every year.

The garden is formed via a series of terraced sections. The top most is stone balustraded and houses the giant container garden and large seating area. The 2m high handcrafted clay planters were commissioned by the award winning garden designer, Lizzie Tulip.

The next 2 lawned terraces are the more formal aspects of the garden and Lizzie Tulip has maintained the symmetry that the original Arts and Crafts garden planting scheme would have displayed. Fastigiate bronze bay trees and cone shaped pittosporum help to form this structure around the central stone, curved staircase.

The lower lawn and largest section, houses the large modern greenhouse, subtropical zone, modern rose bed and recently planted orchard. The greenhouse is definitely worth a visit as typically has palms, peaches, melons, aubergine, tomatoes and chillis growing; amongst others. Watch out for the Bolivian cucumbers (Cyclanthera pedata) hanging from the archway to this area. Relaxing seating areas have been incorporated.

Further down the garden is the woodland, with its beautiful gladed area with round sculptural stone and oak seating. This area was also designed by Lizzie Tulip and is used for the owner’s children’s parties and bonfire night.

Plant sale by Cliffbank Nursery.