A textural tapestry
Above: A favourite place to sit
Above: The view across the wildlife-friendly pond to the exuberant borders
Above: The 'purple' pond. Photos by Leigh Clapp
Above: Sizzling crocosmia and asters
The garden at Ibthorpe Tower in Hurstbourne Tarrant is an example of a truly symbiotic relationship between its design and the landscape that it sits in. Exuberant, orchestrated yet seemingly wild planting echoes the parchment fields beyond. The slightest breeze creating a rippling effect throughout the whole environment. Fluid and alive, this atmospheric scene also reflects the passions of its creators and carers.
Over the past 10 years, the three-and-a-half acres of open meadow have been transformed by an enthusiastic collaboration between gardener Sue Warren and owner Kate Gregory. After Kate and her husband, Paul, had restored and rebuilt a semi-derelict water tower and outbuildings into their unique home, attention turned to the garden. Archaeologist and high-powered academic, Kate started the process thoughtfully, enlisting some professional help.
A gardener is born
After a contractor planted a native hedge to screen the house, dug out a pond and created a mound of earth to one side from what was excavated, Sue was engaged to develop a garden. Also an academic, Sue has a degree in environmental science and with a dislike of working in an office environment had just set up a gardening business. Kate was one of her first clients and their meeting would develop into a long-term working relationship at Ibthorpe.
“I had never regarded gardening as anything other than a horrible chore. However I joined in as Sue made it seem more and more interesting. As I started to see her vision, I realised that what had prevented me getting involved before was sheer fear. Now, nothing will stop my passion for gardening, but I remain strictly the second-in-command,” comments Kate.
This budding interest in gardening resulted in Kate even doing an RHS Diploma in Horticulture at Sparsholt College. Her enthusiasm for the plants, the garden and its continuing evolution is a delight to behold. By working side-by-side, sharing in decisions and processes, Kate and Sue can now bounce ideas off each other as their joint synergy is realised.
A sense of place
Given the location and landform, the design incorporates natural-style planting and some more formal elements. Broad sweeps of massed ornamental grasses and herbaceous plantings embrace the landscape. Muted shades of blues, mauves, burgundies and parchment tones blend harmoniously, with some zingy orange highlights for contrast in the late season palette.
The garden is loosely divided into different areas that flow seamlessly as you wander around the space. Situated 600 feet above sea level on 30 feet of chalk means that the garden is free-draining but also exposed to the elements. As you enter there is a small woodland and along the drive, a white border. By the house is a protected patio that is frequently accessed from the library as a favourite spot to sit out throughout the year. Here the planting is quite exotic and tropical looking with cannas, dahlias and dramatic red spires of lobelia. “This is the only part of the garden that is shady and sheltered from the wind, so we could afford to plant with lush planting, especially with fragrance,” explains Kate.
There is also a potager, orchard and cut-flower garden. “The cutting garden was from a suggestion from my mother because I could not bring myself to cut flowers from any part of the garden,” remembers Kate. Further on there is a winter garden, inspired by Hilliers, with wonderful brambles and stems, as well as a hot border by the greenhouse that Kate refers to as her ‘office’. Adjacent to a paved terrace from the living room is a very modern horseshoe-shaped water feature designed by Paul. Many visitors comment on the purple-coloured water, caused by a bio-friendly vegetable dye, that they saw at Kew, which prevents algae from forming as well as being quite a talking point.
Informal tone
However it is the sweep of informal planting and the wildlife pond that sets the tone of the garden. Gently curving shapes, billowing perennials and snaking, wide grass paths invite up-close exploration. There is a tremendous sense of peace and joy in this special place. From the vantage point of the circular bench around a shady chestnut at the bottom the garden you can take time to soak up the atmosphere, with views across the fields or aspects of the garden. It also provides a design ‘full-stop’ to the slope away from the house down to the field boundary fence, as does the densely planted bank, created from the spoils of the building work.
Texture, shapes, colours of foliage and blooms, or seedheads are all carefully considered and appreciated. Choice plants include stipa, miscanthus, sedum, ceratostigma, persicaria and Kate’s favourite, salvias. “As the perennials are used in such great quantities the maintenance is reduced to a couple of big sessions a year. We also tolerate some self-seeding and it is interesting how the plants choose to divert from one’s original plan, often to great effect,” adds Kate. This is a garden to engage all the senses with the aim of composing examples of real symbiosis to delight.
Opening times
Ibthorpe Tower, Hurtsbourne Tarrant
Sunday, September 7 and Wednesday, September 10 (11am to 5pm)
Admission £3, children free
The National Gardens Scheme
www.ngs.org.uk