Visit a Garden - 7 Deansway

A garden of stories, statues, shapes and structures surrounded by trees and hedges. Bird friendly, cottage style with scented roses, clematis, mature shrubs, a weeping mulberry and abundant planting. Containers, spring bulbs and grapevine provide year-round colour. Developing secret, shady and wild woodland area with ferns and hostas.

This is a garden of stories, statues, shapes and structures. Originally landscaped rather formally over ten years ago, the current owners have been improving the heavy clay soil and have re-organised and replanted all the beds. The result is a garden with wonderful textures contrasts and patterns.

It has several different areas. First, as you come in via the side passage, a grapevine, roses and a clematis hug the wall and climb over a wooden arch. Next is a small paved area next to the house with seating and table and many planted pots. Three shallow steps up take you on to the lawn with beds on either side. A large central bed features a dramatic phormium, is densely planted with herbaceous perenials and is edged with London Pride. Through two rose and clematis arches is a second grass area with weeping trees and a cosy arbour covered with scented jasmine, honeysuckle and clematis.

In Spring, a river of forget-me-nots sweeps up one side, while in Summer shrub roses and Agapanthus provide structure, perfumes to and colour. Then you reach a shady area with another seat and a view back down the garden to the rose covered back wall of the house. In one back corner, three enormous blue bottles catch the eye and on the other side a winding brick path leads you through to a hidden working area. In the dense shade, grass struggles to grow but a new developing fernery is beginning to take shape and there are plans to make it a more natural area with bluebells foxgloves, teasels and other wild shade loving flowers - and maybe this year a water feature.

Ask the owners about the stories of 'Travelling London Pride', the 'three times Tamarix tree' and the Blue Bottles, and get your children to search for the sad lady, the cold lady, the little owl, the boy with the violin, the dragon, the lizard, the elephant and the chinese lion! Leaf quotes are pinned to the shed and you may spot a small vivid blue shard - a piece of discarded roof tile from the roof of the Matisse Chapel in Vence!

You are very welcome to enjoy tea and home-made cakes sitting in one of the seating areas in this pretty garden. Soup may be served for early visitors.

For by arrangement visits refreshments are included and can be either coffee and cake in the day or wine and nibbles in the evening.

Cakes, gluten free cakes and plants for sale (cash preferred).