Cotswold Farm
Gardens, near Duntisbourne Abbot Gloucestershire, is a historic Arts &
Crafts house set in a quiet valley. The views extend 20 miles towards the
Marlborough Downs.
In the
1930’s, Norman Jewson laid out the Terrace and the Gardens which fall away to
the fields below and are enclosed by Cotswold Stone walls and yew hedges
containing a fine collection of shrubs, roses, herbaceous plants and bulbs. The barns also house a collection of old farming and joinery implements.
The meadows
beyond contain a variety of wild flowers and some rare field orchids.
On a beautiful hot Saturday, with only the odd wispy cloud in the sky, we headed north east to Derby and Burrows Garden.
Burrows is set in around 5 acres and has substantial gardens of shrubs, spring and summer flowers and a number of statuettes and follies. Originally laid out by his parents, Craig Dalton took up the reins in 1985 and the gardens are now tended by his partner Nicky. In 2003, he met designer Julian Dowle from Gloucestershire, who planned many new beds. In 2005, a brand new temple garden was developed including a reflection pool with an all-white planting scheme and an emphasis on silver foliage.
There was an odd gravestone used as a plinth beneath one garden seat.
On the way back we took a slight detour to the village of Omaston and took a stroll down the country lane, past Home Farm, to the lake and converted mill.
Ending our day at our favourite pub – The Boat at Ashleworth. If you’re ever down Gloucestershire way head out on the Ledbury road, look out for the first Ashleworth turn off, follow the winding road to the Boat. Real ales from the cask kept, in perfect condition, in a small room behind the bar and take a seat on the banks of the Severn. Enjoy :)
