I spent a glorious few days in Suffolk last week, visiting some gardens. It’s one of the perks of being a garden writer and though I don’t get the chance to indulge myself with garden visiting very often, the beauty of this trip was that it was all arranged for me by the Garden Media Guild.
All I had to do was drive the 200 plus miles to get there. Let’s not mention the journey, the M25, the traffic jams or my late arrival!!
It was a jam-packed itinerary taking in a handful of Suffolk’s gems.
First stop was the quirky cottage garden full of idiosyncratic garden features at The Lucy Redman School of Garden Design, Rushbrooke, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0ER www.lucyredman.co.uk.
I loved the covered dining area, the Palais de Poulet and the Celtic racetrack. Well worth a visit.
Then we visited Langham Herbs at Langham Walled Garden, Lanham Hall, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 3EE www.langhamherbs.co.uk, which was immaculate. A fascinating stroll back in time, with regimented beds of perfect vegetables and herbs, all grown without the help of pesticides.
Also on site is the pretty and well-kept Bellflower Nursery www.alpinecampanulas.co.uk, where Sue Wooster keeps her National Collection of Alpine Campanulas. The plants weren’t yet in flower, so a revisit is definitely on the cards. Sue also sells a range home grown and locally grown perennials, alpines, shrubs and bulbs.
Lunch was simply divine and definitely a place to remember. We dined at The Leaping Hare Vineyard Restaurant and Cafe at Wyken Hall, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2DW www.wykenvineyards.co.uk and then took a tour around the 4-acre Wyken Hall Garden owned by Sir Kenneth and Lady Carlisle.
Seasoned with a variety of poultry from peacocks to turkeys, the garden is charming and includes many wonderful features including a knot and herb garden, old-fashioned rose garden, wild garden, pond, gazebo and maze, herbaceous borders and old orchard.
Not to mention the glorious glasshouse from Growhouse’s big sister company - Gabriel Ash. www.gabrielash.com
The final stop was at The Kitchen Garden, Church Lane, Troston, Suffolk IP31 1EX
www.kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk. Francine Raymond is a woman after my own heart. Her homely productive vegetable, cut flower and herb gardens show that it is perfectly possible to garden with hens. A flock of apricot Buff Orpingtons accompanied our tour, which was followed by tea and cake. What a treat.
It was a glorious day and a wonderful cluster of gardens. What’s more you can follow our footsteps with the new Gardeners’ Fridays that plot the same route, offering garden lovers the chance to glimpse everything on our visit and enjoy their own sumptuous lunch at The Leaping Hare Vineyard Restaurant and Café. Delicious.
