The garden has developed since 1978 on 1.5 acres of former cherry orchard. It was a family task from the start with Tim and Mrs Nancy Ingram, his mother, taking a keen interest in ornamental planting and Jack Ingram planting fruit trees and avidly keeping the grass in tip top condition. In the beginning the garden was very open and hot, so trees were planted to create some shade. Now some of those trees are being removed to create more light. The garden has become less formal as time has gone by, with many island beds and interest focusing on plants which are Tim’s primary concern.
His first love was for alpines after visiting Joe Elliot’s nursery in the Cotswolds when he was young and he devotes time and space to growing these in special beds. Allied to love of alpines are the spring plants which take advantage of the early light and moisture. Snowdrops have great charm and diversity followed by Hellebores which continue for months, then a flood of woodland species like Anemones, Hepaticas and Trilliums. As summer approaches his love for southern hemisphere plants, Umbellifers, and plants which thrive in hot summers by questing for their own source of water deep down becomes obvious.
A nursery ran on the site from 1987 to 2006. Plants are being grown again though at present in small numbers. We officially open in 2013.
