St Bride's Cottage

Description: This half-acre garden was started from scratch in 2002 and now provides year-round interest. Planting several trees and making a wildlife pond and stream were the first priorities, as birds were sadly rare visitors to the garden. Parts of the perimeter of the garden are left semi wild with dense shrubs to provide cover and nesting areas, while the area visible from the house is planted for viewing, with a mixture of shrubs, perennials and bulbs. Some features are inspired by visits to gardens around the world, including a Japanese-themed area with island bed. There is a small bog garden with a lovely early summer display of Iris sibirica and many plants justify their existence by attracting a wide variety of bees and butterflies.