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.
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| anyone remember Hissing Sid?? |
The Strawberry Line takes its name from the produce
this former railway line carried from the strawberry fields of Cheddar. The line
was well used for nearly a century until its closure in 1965 and since
then a wealth of wildlife habitats have been allowed to flourish. Volunteers
from the Cheddar Valley Railway Walk Society began converting the line into a
walking and cycling route in 1983.
It also boasts the wonderful Almshouse Tearooms housed in the
converted 15th century Almshouse where you are sure of a really
friendly welcome.
Magnolia - One of the arboretum's most beautiful
plants when in flower, the magnolias provide a backdrop of spring colour
for the Japanese Cherries;
