Our 2/3 acre garden surrounds a grade II listed medieval farmhouse with Georgian and Victorian additions. When we moved in 9 years ago there was a neglected formal garden with old rose beds, overgrown kitchen garden, some large fruit cages with ancient fruit bushes, a dense wooded area, large poor lawn with the remnants of an old orchard.

Since then we have tried to restore the garden largely keeping its existing landscape design, bringing the formal garden back to life, adding and enlarging borders, a second greenhouse and potting shed.

Its a country cottage garden with a mixture of herbaceous and annual planting. We collect old tools, farming and agricultural implements, unusual containers including milk churns, water tanks, sinks, tin buckets, bowls, baths, cattle and pig troughs, washing copper and a horse drawn cart. We are currently designing and planting our way into the wooded area which surrounds a large natural pond.

We opened for charity a few years ago as part of a local garden open scheme. Last year we opened for the Yellow book for the first time and we are opening again this June.

It is a labour of love-we do all the gardening ourselves. We are members of the local horticultural society and exhibit what we grow in the garden including daffodils, sweet peas, roses, fruit and vegetables at the 3 annual shows.