Stockton Bury Gardens
Wednesday, 29 May 2019 Amazing Spaces Award Winning Gardens Garden Design and Build Garden Design Ideas Great Places to Visit How to Plant a Garden Landscape Garden Design News & Views Romantic Gardens Sourcing Products Traditional Crafts Water in the Garden Wildflowers Wildlife in the Garden
Last Sunday was the Country Gardener’s Fair at Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire, where we were delighted to have a stall selling some our garden items form our online shop .
The setting for the fair is just magical, the garden having been created over 30 years, were never intended to be open to the public, being part of a working farm. There are stunning buildings at every turn with original features such as a cider press and pigeon house and the creative planting dense with unusual specimens and varieties.
Looking down towards the farm buildings through the Pillar garden, this area has an Italian look
The gardens have been created by Raymond Treasure who grew up on the farm and his partner, plantsman Gordon Fenn. Recently they have been joined at Stockton Bury by Raymonds’ two nieces, Tamsin Westhorpe, journalist and former editor of The English Garden Magazine and co chair of the Garden Media Guild as well as her sister Constance, who runs the wonderful cafe in the Tithe Barn. A real family business and the whole place is both friendly and inspiring.
There are surprises at every turn in this garden and I have only included a few images here but hope to give a taste and small glimpse of what this magical setting has to offer.
The gardens are brimming with Iris at this time of the year and bearded Iris in particular are outstanding
A group of Iris (below) near one of the ponds in the garden looking stunning
What about a property which has original Bee Boles for skeps. The word ‘bole’ is derived from the Welsh word ‘bolch’ or ‘bwilch’ meaning gap or notch. When moveable wooden frame hives were introduced in the 19th Century, skeps went out of fashion.
The Auricular Theatre was another treat. Auriculas are part of the Primulaceae family and usually grow on rocks and the mountain ranges of Central Europe. An Auricular theatre was often sited near a house so the floral blooms could be enjoyed as soon as they blossomed and be visible from the windows.
More treats await in the lovely original unheated greenhouse which is in the kitchen garden
The gardens are very special and there is so much inspiration to be had. We had a lovely day meeting lots of people who attended the fair and had great fun chatting and showing our range of vintage garden and bespoke artisan products. We only took a small section with us including huge outdoor candles, cut flower baskets and hazel plant markers .
Especially popular were our large hanging planters, where the cord and paint are coated in linseed oil for extending their life outdoors. These planters as well as our large outdoor candles are unique to us in the UK and I am very proud to be able stock them. They are made by a Danish Company who provide jobs for mentally vulnerable employees and each one takes a few days to create.
Stockton Bury is really one of the top English gardens to visit and in a beautiful county. The winding paths around the garden keep revealing hidden treats . Walking around the garden especially along the original well worn paving, you will encounter hidden gems.
