Landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan was brought in to refurbish the garden of a Cotswold manor house. Longstaffe-Gowan prefers putting layers onto old garden instead of starting anew.
Since the early 1700s, gardens have been kept up at this manor which contained gargantuan yew hedging, stately trees, walls, paths and outbuildings. The designer planted rock roses, erigerons, sedums, euphorbias, centranthus, ajuga, catmints and stachys, yews. Longstaffe-Gowan planted trees, rebuilt walls, and reopened historic sites. The kitchen garden that had been planted was restored near the home, as was a flower garden for daily clippings. Fruit trees have been planted, as have vegetable gardens. The flower beds are edged with lavender, chervil, hyssop, dianthus, violet and santolina. A Henry VII finial from which a tree grows decorates the garden.
Matthew Fry is the gardener now, and it appears that he is doing a wonderful job! ENJOY!
House and Garden UK July 2011
