Old Park Barn, Stoke Goldington
A garden of almost 3 acres made from a rough field over 28yrs ago. A series of terraces cut into the sloping site create the formal garden with long and cross vistas, lawns and deep borders. The aim is to provide interest throughout the yr with naturalistic planting and views borrowed from the surrounding countryside. Beyond this there is a wildlife pond, stream, grass, meadow, and woodland gardens.
We designed and made the garden and after 28 years it is constantly evolving. Near the house a series of terraces, cut into the sloping site, become the formal part of the design with long and cross vistas, lawns and deep borders with drifts of perennials, specimen shrubs, trees, clematis and climbing roses. A careful selection of plants that suit our clay soil and the environment, which are only watered during their first year. Paths and slopes link a series of quiet sitting areas and lead to a small orchard and a wildlife pond surrounded by dense planting. Between these is a newly planted area featuring ornamental grasses and late flowering perennials with open sky and gravel paths. Beyond this is a flower meadow with mown paths and swathes of plants chosen for wildlife. The meadow is fringed by a horseshoe of deciduous trees planted at the Millennium and containing a serpentine walk with woodland bulbs, shade loving perennials, mosses and ferns. At the southernmost tip of the garden is an organic vegetable plot created in 2024 using “no dig” principles, and a log store. A stream garden forms the western boundary between the garden and neighbouring fields. We try to garden in a sustainable way, propagating our own plants, avoiding using mains water to irrigate and with much of the materials we use recycled from the garden and the local environment. We are constantly evolving the planting and layout, often inspired by great gardens we have visited and new plants we find. We hope to share our love of plants and design with our visitors.
Filmed for Gardeners' World Photographer for Gardens Illustrated.
