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About the Gardens

Walled Garden

The Walled Garden was originally a kitchen garden supplying vegetables for the Manor House. The high walls now give protection from cold winds not only to fine and exotic plant displays, but also to animals from warmer climates. A number of apple and pear trees remain from the old kitchen garden.

A wide range of perennial plants flourish in the favourable microclimate of the Walled Garden, where visitors can observe animals such as meerkats, otters, penguins and squirrel monkeys in an exotic garden setting.

A walk amongst the atmospheric plantings of exotic flowers and foliage is enhanced by the calling of lemurs, hornbills and kookaburras.

Giant Honeysuckle (Lonicera Hilderbrandtiana) from Burma is one of the many more unusual but spectacular plants grown at the Park.

The Tropical House

The Tropical House occupies the same site in the Walled Garden as the original Estate conservatory, where peaches and carnations were once grown in one of Oxfordshire's oldest greenhouses.

This is one of the horticultural highlights of the Park, where you will find hibiscus, bougainvillea, angel's trumpet, thunbergia, abutilon and plumbago, to name but a few. Look out too for a number of interesting crop plants such as papaya, sugar cane and banana.

Each January the plants are pruned back heavily to keep them within bounds and to produce new flowering growth. In addition, a mulch of oak leaves is put down, similar to a forest floor; its decomposition not only produces some natural heat, but breaks down to the consistency of fine soil.

South Terrace

On the south side of the Manor House a paved terrace featuring clipped box parterres, fragrant lavender and Versailles planters, leads down to a lily pond and traditional herbaceous border. Capturing the spirit of the English country house, this is in marked contrast to the exotic planting style seen elsewhere in the Park.

In spring, the parterres are filled with Tulips and Anenome de Caen, whilst the planters are packed with spring bulbs and flowers, including Hyacinths, Narcissi and Forget-me-nots.

In the summer white Argyranthemum (Marguerites) take the place of the tulips and provide non-stop flower until the heavy frosts. The planters overflow with tender perennials such as Verbena and Felicia in pastel shades.

As is traditional for the south facing wall of a Manor House, an aged Magnolia Grandiflora, its creamy scented lowers appearing in summer and autumn, enjoys the protection of the warm wall.

 

The herbaceous border is a tranquil mix of soft mauves, blues, violets and whites. Whilst traditional in feel, by careful selection of plant varieties the season of interest extends from spring right through to late autumn.

West Terrace

Acacia dealbata Sub-alpina (Mimosa) flowers profusely during in February on a sheltered west wall

Acacia dealbata Sub-alpina (Mimosa)
The fountain with the
imposing Wellingtonia
(Sequoiadendron giganteum).

Flower Meadows

Naturalized Narcissus near Children's Farm Yard during March/April.