The Drive

In 1932 the enormous laurels, so beloved by the Victorians, were cleared from where you enter through the front gates; for some mysterious reason a small seedling beech was left which is now a large tree. Further down a mini arboretum has been planted which includes a large Eucryphia x nymanensis 'Nymansay' and a Davidia involucrata, both already flowering well. All but three of the original limes that edged the drive have gone, but the new weeping silver limes are now growing well and produce a sweet scent in the summer which the bees find irresistible.

Bluebell wood

Bordering one side of the car park, which was made in 1975, a row of Pterostyrax hispida has been planted. These were grown from seed brought from Ireland by my mother, who found that the public would not buy them as the majority did not know this attractive flowering tree. The rough grass is yellow with daffodils in the spring.

Running alongside the drive is the bluebell wood, a spectacular sight in early May with interplanting of many specie acers and prunus for spring and autumn colour.

The forecourt of the house is also particularly beautiful in April/May when the Magnolia denudata, Viburnum x burkwoodii and Osmanthus delavayi complement each other. I am somewhat nervous about these large shrubs as the borders are only two and a half feet deep and were made after this part of the house was pulled down. Later in the summer good examples of Schizophragma integrifolium cover the walls.