Highfield Farm Garden: A celebration of plants

The variety of gardens within the National Garden Scheme range from tiny urban gems to rolling acres, and in Monmouthshire there is one very special garden with deep roots that connect it, and its owners, Roger and Jenny Lloyd, to the charity.

Previous owned by Jenny’s mum, the couple moved to Highfield Farm in 2015. They committed to renovate and open the garden in her memory and to continue the fund raising for the National Garden Scheme that they had started at their garden in Cheshire in 2010. It was the compassionate care shown by the Macmillan nurses who had supported Jenny’s mum through cancer that first inspired the couple to open their garden and, with the move to Monmouthshire, they also joined the Gwent County Team to help with the wider effort of the National Garden Scheme.

Today Highfield Farm Garden opens on dates in June, July, August and September and By Arrangement for those wanting to enjoy this very special garden in a private group, they also host a series of popular garden workshops – all aimed at hitting their donation target of £100,000.

“On open garden days, when I am asked about fundraising, I explain my admiration for Macmillan nurses and this often develops into moving conversations with our visitors about their personal experiences and their gratitude to the nurses for their support,” says Jenny. “This not only provides a meaningful context for the garden opening and the visitors’ donations, but also a real sense of fulfilment for participation in the National Garden Scheme which is Macmillan’s longest standing partner having provided fabulous donations of £20 million over the last 40 years.”

For Roger, whose retirement motto is ‘find the joy and fill your life with it’, the garden plays a central role in realising that aspiration. Building and sharing a garden, he told us, is a primary source of joy. Together, their combined passion and their love of plants means that the couple have raised over £74,500 to-date.

A walk through the garden…

Popular with the garden media including publications like The English Garden which named them Regional Winner of its Nation’s Favourite Gardens in 2023, and BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World, Highfield Farm Garden is a celebration of plants. There are over 1400 cultivars, with many rarities, densely planted over three acres and set within the majestic Monmouthshire landscape. It offers an exuberant display across the seasons, providing an intimate, immersive experience with a diverse array of herbaceous, shrubs and trees.

For those keen to find out why the garden is so special you can take a walk through the garden at Highfield Farm with Roger in the video here: