Hillside Gardens

The Old Corn Mill

The first of our garden visits is situated at Aston Crews near Ross on Wye. A 17th century water mill nestles at the bottom of a 45 foot drop from the road above to Rudhall Brook at the bottom.. Terraced gardens cover around one and a half acres.

 

 

Winding paths lead through the meadows, woodland glades and orchards. Banks are thickly planted with grasses, shrubs and groundcover and primulas.

Plants were chosen to suit damp conditions in a rural situation and underpin around a thousand trees on the site. Can you spot the faces in the trees?

 

The lower meadow contains the stream and pond, home to water vole and an array of birds, some nesting on site include Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Robin, Stock Dove and Spotted Flycatcher. 

Southbourne and Goblin Wood @ Pine Lodge

Our second stop incorporates two south facing adjacent gardens totalling just under five acres with panoramic views over Bodenham Lakes to the Black Mountains and Malvern Hills.

Southbourne has a steep access to 2 acres of terraced lawns, herbaceous beds, shrubs and woodland. Which adjoins Pine Lodge. The gardens terraced retaining walls, lawns, herbaceous and shrub beds together with a fish pond, patios and spring flower area. The developing woodland comprises young trees and shrubs which include a Columnar Pear, Scarlet Oak and Dawn Redwood. Tea and cakes were on the terrace with views over the SSSI  at Bodenham Lake to the Skirrid and Black mountains.

 

Autumn colours are just beginning to show through.

At Pine Lodge, which includes Goblin Wood, paths meander through 2½ acres of woodland featuring most of Britain’s native trees plus some unusual oaks. It was for many years a field originally owned by Worcester College, Oxford and rented out for agriculture but the steep slope made it difficult for tractors and machinery. During WWII it was used to train glider pilots — the gliders would be winched off from the top of the field, hopefully avoid the trees at the bottom, and glide over the orchards and lake and then over the Lugg flats.

The woodland is kept wild to encourage wildlife.

The adjacent woodland above the top path is very ancient and was part of the Hampton Court estate. The path along the top of the wood is very old — a medieval horseshoe was found here. lt may have been a forerunner of Dinmore Road and it is possible that this track dates back to Roman times or earlier. On the flat area at the bottom track are a number of large stones originally in a circle that may be Neolithic.

Distributed around the gardens are interesting pieces of garden art

Why Goblin Wood? Owner Frank Ryding reckons:

“There are old stories of small goblin-like people being seen along the top path especially near sunset and after dark. If you want to avoid them it’s best to whistle as goblins can’t whistle and will hide away. Also singing about your toes will make them run away as they can’t sing and they have no toes. Beware of any goblin houses you may find goblins are bad-tempered and don’t like to be disturbed. Look for a wizard, a dragon, a sundial, some gargoyles, Goblin Lane, 2 ‘A pence, and some gold coins”.

 

 

Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum

Our third and final visit was another woodland sloping walk through the wonderful arboretum at Bodenham with its panoramic viewpoints.

Queenswood is a fragment of the vast ancient oak wood that once stretched to the Welsh borders and beyond. It was held by the crown on and off throughout the ages and only changed its name from 'Kings Wood' to 'Queenswood' in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

During the 17th century Queenswood became part of the Hampton Court Estate, which still borders the country park on the opposite side of the main road. The land was originally purchased following a public appeal by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in 1934 following concerns that land in this beautiful area was being sold off for holiday homes. This was because the woods were clear-felled during the WWI to provide timber for the war effort and by the 1930s the woodlands, which had once been managed for the profitable timber and coppice products were no longer economically viable.

The wood slowly started to regenerate and in 1945 Sir Richard Cotterell, a neighbouring landowner, became chairman of the management committee and looked at planting the woodland for amenity. When the cost of planting the whole 170 acres proved to be too great, it was decided to focus on the central 47 acres which is now the arboretum.

 

anyone remember Hissing Sid??