Kate’s garden, Charnwood

Kate Foale introduces F&F readers to Charnwood, her garden.

We moved into Charnwood in Nottinghamshire – just south of the River Trent - with our son, David, in August 1987. As time, money and fitness have been available we have gradually developed the acre of garden and continue to plan new areas.

The backdrop of mature trees and countryside makes gardening here a joy. The soil is a little mixed, but mainly heavy clay. I am a complete compost anorak: there are nine compost bins in the garden, not counting leaf mould containers; so tonnes and tonnes of the good stuff has been dug into the soil over the years and most plants now thrive here.

Through the gate the front garden is dominated on the right by a blue cedar, probably at least as old as the house (1950s). The clipped box at the front of the house came from a local nursery, Ivor Thompson and has, unfortunately, been ‘trimmed’ in places by Jamie the dog who sadly passed away in 2009 and was not a great gardener. Walking by the right hand side of the house are two weeping pears and opposite a border of ferns and spring bulbs include N. ‘Thalia’ and English bluebells.

A spring bed dominated by a lovely old Scots Pine then faces you with rosemary, pulmonaria, N. ‘Tresamble’ and cowslips. Grasses, including molina and perennials follow on. Big swathes of daffodils February Silver and February Gold with thomasinus crocus are planted in the grass and fruit trees and hollies gently mark the boundary with a field behind.

The mainly herbaceous border at the back of the house faces south west and has tulips, allium and scillas in spring and perennials such as penstemons, sedum, iris, hardy geraniums and verberna bonariensis in Summer. Next to the patio with the umbrella are roses and lavender leading to a pergola, a yellow David Austin Anniversary rose and a little brick courtyard with pots full of plants which vary according to the seasons.

This takes you through to the more formal garden, some of which is hard landscaped and planted with perennials. One of the beds is designed for a tropical feel with plants such as yucca, dahlias and eucomis. At the end of the path you are taken to a ‘secret magnolia garden’ with bamboo, magnolia, romneya, grasses and shrubs. A golden robinia was planted c1990. Peter is passionate about wisteria and there are several good specimens of different varieties, all expertly pruned, around the garden.

The yew hedge linking the house to the garage is now 20 years old. If you walk round the right hand side of the garage you will come to the pond, installed in August 2002 by Edd Seeley with a jetty and a Goliath heron. Again, we are still experimenting with planting here in the horribly heavy clay with the expert help of our friend and gardeners David Wilson and Matt Pyke. A gunnera, hellebores and woodland planting are now thriving. The most recent introduction is a swamp cypress which quickly got its feet down into the damp soil and some railway sleepers.

In 2009, my Mother died, a sad loss as she was a lovely Mum and Grandma and huge inspiration to Kate, especially in the garden. In her memory we asked our architect friend, Simon Wrigley, to draw up plans for a seaside garden, complete with a cobble ‘beach’, oak railway sleepers to provide some steps and a gravel garden where I have planted alpines, grasses, allium and some choice perennials. It is now complete and getting well established.

The garden is open through the NGS ‘Yellow Book’ on 6 and 7 May 2012. We also open for groups and study days - email [email protected] for more information. Kate has also written a book based on her garden at Charnwood, details can be found on the website.

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