Garden descriptions

1. A garden of mature trees, extensive shrubberies, herbaceous borders, and an ornamental pond with rose arch leading to the house. A natural garden, with wildlife pond and waterfall. On the site of Drinkstone Park, demolished in 1950, the remains of the historic ha-ha can still be seen with views across the open countryside. The original cellars have been partly exposed showing the staircase to the Butlers Pantry. An orchard and vegetable garden complete with a polytunnel. Also open for the NGS.
2. A landscaped garden within and without the walls of the original Drinkstone House. The grave of Joshua Grigsby sits beneath an ancient mulberry tree. Some of the original nineteenth century planting survives with a magnificent wellingtonia, a monkey puzzle and a giant redwood.
3. Large garden with a wide range of plants for all seasons. Walled garden, mixed borders, small alpine garden, paddock with trees (many grown from seed). No vegetables, too many rabbits and deer to feed.  Small ornamental pond & field pond (now bone dry as it has been for the last year) 
4. A country garden with lots of roses (well over 150) and a few surprises. The one with the quirky topiary teapot…..
5. Please come and see round the gardens and grounds of this new addition to Open Gardens. To the back of the house is parkland (with some beautiful old trees), a formal lawn, and a small wood. At the front there are two original flint walled gardens, one laid as an orchard with a pond, and the other originally a vegetable garden. We hope to bring all the gardens, and particularly the walled gardens, fully back to life over the next few years.  As such, this is the ‘before’ tour, with ‘after’ sometime in the future! All suggestions/advice welcome!
6. A large, mature garden overlooking open countryside. It comprises mainly herbaceous plants, shrubs and roses, and enough trees to attract most forms of wildlife. 
7. The garden consists of mature shrubs and borders amidst sloping lawns and a variety of trees, totalling around 2 ½ acres with a further 3 acres of paddocks. We grow a variety of vegetables and the orchard provides apples, pears and plums. We share our space with free range hens, sheep, alpacas and bees (as well as moles and rabbits!) We are carrying out some reshaping, as when we moved here many of the shrubs had become trees so some brave pruning has taken place. We face the challenges of ground elder and nettles but preferring not to use pesticides and herbicides, some areas are left to nature in order to encourage natural habitats for wildlife.  We have exciting plans for the future to include the conversion of an unused tennis court into a ‘longed for’ walled garden so hopefully what you see this year will be different again in two year’s time. There are two pond areas.
8. A small cottage garden newly established over the last six years. The different levels giving many challenges, including raised beds, a bank and herbaceous borders as well as two patio areas with planted tubs and pots.
9. A weekend cottage garden. Compact garden only worked on at weekends. Started 9 years ago from scratch which required three skips to remove the rubble. I am still finding more, and we are on heavy clay soil. A few mistakes and more than a few disasters but learning as I go. Cottage feel with open views across the countryside, with new bush and climbing roses. Raised pond, sunken patio with pots, white fig from Falldon House, Northumberland, and small planted gravel area for more drought tolerant plants. Small front strip of garden, experimenting with roses for shadier areas.
10. A new garden just starting its fifth full season. Featuring fruit and climbers. Espaliered, fan trained and cordon fruit mainly on fences. Species clematis, roses and honeysuckle. Canna, Hollyhock and Agapanthus. Woodland corner.
11. A quarter acre garden half of which is made up of acid soil. Thus, mature Camellias and Rhododendrons thrive. Plus, a very large evergreen Eucryphia tree from Chile holds pride of place. The garden was originally planted over 60 years ago by a real plant enthusiast.  The current owners are not gardeners but, with professional help, are working to restore the garden and add their own touches. A herb garden, raised beds for vegetables and climbers for the pergolas and a visitor has been added.
12. Thatched cottage with garden to match, Hopefully, the named roses will still be blooming-one started blooming in April! Small raised pond, a well, and a greenhouse. Plus, an ‘Observation beehive’ and honey from Drinkstone Bees for sale.
13. Possibly the smallest open garden at 50 feet x 50 feet, our aim is to provide food and shelter for wildlife for as much of the year as we can. It’s a a typical cottage garden with classic cottage garden plants and shrubs that are attractive to pollinating insects. We have a small pond for newts and lots of trees for birds.
14. Informal garden (always a “work-in-progress”), with lawns, borders, fruit pen, and patio area with raised beds. Far ranging countryside views over paddocks. Young fruit trees and meadow area with wild flowers. Includes a pond (no fencing). Try your hand at some garden games if the weather is fine!
15. A 15^th Century pink cottage Thatcher’s Cottage originally three properties. Named after Reverend Thomas Camborne, vicar of All Saints Church, Drinkstone. In the front garden drive, there is an original well, recently restored. Perhaps a spring garden but in the large informal rear garden live a varied range of summer shrubs and perennials. There is a raised scree garden, a medium sized pond with three small water features. Behind the pond hedge is a wildlife area with and mature orchard. The entire garden is enclosed by an attractive wide, dry ditch.
16. A garden with lots of variety: orchard and lawns with mature trees and clipped Holm Oaks; formal garden with topiary, parterre and borders; rose garden; woodland walk with hellebores, camellias, rhododendrons and bulbs; new lake, woodland planting and wildflower meadow; cut flower garden with greenhouse; large kitchen garden with impressive greenhouse; Mediterranean courtyard with mature olive tree. Also open for the NGS.