Hidcote Manor Gardens
19/04/09
"Hidcote Manor Garden is one of England's great Arts and Crafts gardens. A profusion of colour contrasts with impeccably manicured lawns, Hidcote is a continuing influence on garden design. Whatever the season, there's something to delight and inspire."
The national trust leaflet for Hidcote Manor Gardens
I visited Hidcote Manor Gardens whilst visiting my Aunty who lives in Gloustershire. The gardens cover 10.5 acres and is composed of a series of outdoor rooms, made out of hedges of holly, yew and beech. Topairy seemed to be a main feature of the garden, as well as a central gazebo and a large pool with roses around it.
The gardens were created by Major Lawrence Johnston in an arts and crafts style (which concentrates on individual craftmanship) in 1907. The garden was developed for the next forty years, then handed over to the national trust. Major Johnston filled his outdoor rooms with plants from all over the world; he gathered plants from Africa and China but many more were sent to him by fellow gardening enthusiasts from all around the world.
I found the gardens very elegant and well ordered. The planting was diverse and very interesting the magnolia trees inparticular were spectacular and i came across 'skunk cabbage' and 'foxglove tree' which were unusual and new to me. i really enjoyed the garden.
