Country House Garden, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, UK

Quintessentially English country house garden

A wonderful opportunity to add to a large country house garden with a new box parterre filled with lavender. A circular feature with an old obelisk found in the grounds acts as the perfect centre piece, at the bottom of a flight of old stone steps. A new set of stone steps, with low risers and deep treads are lined with lavender and hebe. The driveway leading up to the country house was remodelled with accent circular drum hornbeam hedges set in lawns. These features lead the eye up to and frame the front of the country house. This is a simple palette of greens and purples.

This country house garden has been formally designed, with a mix of informality and an intensively planted garden. A variety of herbaceous perennials, trees and shrubs bring the garden to life with wildlife. The hills and valleys of Shropshire act as a backdrop to this country house garden. Views have been opened up to ‘borrow’ the landscape and to blur the boundaries of where the garden ends. A large flat lawn perfect for croquet leads off from the formal parterre.

An old wooden and stone pergola has been rejuvenated with a mix of Virginia creeper, clematis and old fashioned roses. The pergola is right next to a stone wall, while flowering and aromatic shrubs that lead the eye up the old flagstone pathway below, to a quiet seating spot.

This is a country house garden that will grow with the family and the larger estate. Other areas will be added over the years, and projects like this are truly rewarding. While researching the history of the house, we found out that many artists and writers would visit during the nineteenth century.

For further examples of gorgeous private commissions please visit here