The Manor looks onto formally laid gardens, probably unchanged for a hundred years. A rectangular, sunken garden of symetrical rose beds, surrounded by castellated yew hedges is immediately in front of the house, below the terrace. A fish pond with some 60 gold fish sits in complete tranquillity in the middle of the sunken garden. Beyond, steps lead to a path with two enormous herbaceous borders on either side, a tall, gaunt Scots pine at the end, its branches level with the ground harbouring a statue of Pandora who keeps her foot firmly on the box she is not supposed to open. in September and October she is profusely surrounded by pink and red cyclamen. The borders, in partial shade of the Scots pine are ablaze with colour from May until November. Daisies, delphiniums, poppies, allium, tulips and lupins in May and June are followed by rudbeckias, crocosmia, penstemmon giving way to sedums, asters and dahlias which flower until the first frosts of November.
Beyond the herbaceous borders, in Manor grounds, lies the Cricket field where the Kempsford team plays. Our visitors can watch a cricket match from the garden over their tea. To the South are various shrubberies, a rockery, and at the boundary of the garden, a section of the former Thames-Severn canal, the part in our garden still containing water and considerable wild life: deer, munjak, foxes, badgers, pheasants are frequent visitors. Our resident owl calls out at 3:30 pm, summer and winter!
The path along the canal (our snowdrop walk) planted with poplars, aspen and willow leads to the vegetable garden and orchard. This is jokingly called the 'Romantic Walk' because couples have to hold on to each other to avoid the tree roots which have in some areas come to the surface! The orchard, planted 25 years ago contains some old-fashioned varieties of apple, such as James Grieve, Worcester Pearmain, Charles Ross, Cox' Orange, pears, Conference, Beurre Hardy and Williams, Greengage, and damsons as well as soft fruit, currants and gooseberries. The trees in the orchard were originally planted ( 1977) to the left of the herbaceous border and in the five years that they remained there refused to grow. They were then transported to their current site where in one year they more or less doubled their size! In the vegetable garden we tend to grow more unusual types such as mange-tout peas, climbing French beans, varieties of marrows, spinach, and herbs as well as flowers for colour and cutting.
To interest tree lovers our gardens have some interesting specimen trees: the fine avenue of limes along the drive (under-planted with crocus and daffodil), a 300 year old horse chesnut and a 25 year old Zelkova as well as some young trees planted to commemorate special occasions, among them a 20 year old Cedar of Lebanon, which seems to be very content with its position in the garden - the area vacated by the fruit trees! In the 35 years of our residence at the Manor we have planted approximately 225 trees.
We are currently planning a new project which is a succesion of elegant arches bearing climbing and rambling roses. We are keen to have the advice and suggestions of our visitors (often adhered to!) with regard to the roses to be planted, or indeed to any aspect of our garden.
ATTRACTIONS ON A VISIT
Very often we manage to get musicians to entertain our guests. An hour of so of gentle jazz is pleasant to listen to over tea.
For those interested in Art we often have paintings of local artists on show which are for sale. Occasionally local artists may be seen painting during your visit.
We have a number of gift items for sale by visiting craftsmen.
We often have plants for sale. Please note: in October we divide our herbaceous plants and are happy to sell for charity parts of plants which we do not need, so if you are interested please ring!
Games for everyone! Badmington, childrens' tennis; croquet and quizzes for adults and children. Prizes for children.
A GARDEN OF INTEREST THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS
January: A vast circle of winter aconites around the chesnut tree and in the drive. The aconites have been creeping to other parts of the garden and are now making their way up the drive.
February: The splendid show of different varieties of snowdrops, covering an area the size of a tennis court and along the canal walk. We are one of the leading snowdrop gardens in Gloucestershire.
March: First tulips, crocus. The drive covered with crocus and daffodil.
April: Tulips, blossom in the orchard. Each year around 200 tulips are planted.
May: Exotic display of tulips, climbing roses. The herbaceous borders coming alive.
June: The month for the blooming of 200 roses, with borders now looking resplendent. This is the most colourful month for the garden.
July: Roses, border plants and terrace pots of geraniums, verbena, lobelia, impatiens. The vegetable garden offering its first produce.
August: A tropical show of brightly planted pots on the terrace. A month when we especially welcome children with games, quizzes on nature and prizes.
September: Vegetables abound - climbing French beans, mange-tout peas, courgettes,autumn raspberries, apples, pears, plums. Produce is sold whenever possible. Second blooming of roses.
October: Wild cyclamen giving a lovely show. Pink and lilac single asters in the borders. Herbaceous plants are divided, and some are for sale.
November: Preparations for the garden to be put to its winter sleep. New tulips and alliums are planted in pots and in borders.
December: The first winter aconites......