Two Similar Gardens - Two Seperate Counties

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 :)

Atcombe Court, Woodchester

Atcombe has 12 acres of grounds around C17 house, with a later added Regency front, in Woodchester. 

 

There are amazing views over the Stroud valley with lakes, mature trees and paddocks. Terraced herbaceous borders, lawns, extensive shrubberies, cutting garden mostly annuals. The long peony border is a palette of colours, bees flit twix poppy and cornflower and there is a woodland walk through beechwood.

 

Murder, Mystery and Flowers

Great night was had by all at the murder mystery evening at Hilton Double Tree @ Cadbury House (just opposite the amazing Cadbury Garden Centre in Somerset)

The Gangsta n Mol themed murder mystery was played out, to a packed dining area, between courses by a really professional amdram group – Murder by Design -  with a well thought out plot - our table got it wrong! The policeman, who was also the writer/director was amazing.

 
The hotel also had a luxurious health spa that we could use gratis (even swam before breckie :)

Returned via Bristol Botanic Gardens, stopping off at a wonderful rustic farm for tea n cake.

The Botanic Garden is situated in Stoke Bishop, a few hundred meters from the edge of Durdham Down and a short walk from Bristol Zoo. In 1882 Bristol University College awarded their Lecturer of Botany, Adolf Leipner, a grant of £15 for the purpose of laying out a botanic garden. Leipner raised a further £89 and the garden was built on waste ground adjacent to the newly opened buildings of University College The resource provides the teaching of plant sciences within the University of Bristol and a resource for local schools.

The University of Bristol Botanic Garden was the first new University botanic garden to be created in the United Kingdom for nearly forty years and contains many exotic species set in inspirational displays against the backdrop of a striking Victorian house.