I call our garden a “working garden” because it has to offer something to adults, children and pets. I believe the garden has quite famous beginnings being originally designed by Bill Mackenzie (as in Clematis “Bill Mackenzie”) and featuring on Gardeners World and various gardening magazines in the early 80s. Imagine how I felt taking over the garden in 1998!! However, I wanted it to reflect our tastes and needs and 1 have changed it completely with only the structure of the original garden remaining in the shape of large trees, old shrubs and two stalwart climbing roses which I adore.

The front garden is the winter/autumn garden, the side of the house is a puppy run, the middle part of the garden is an adult’s garden and the end of the garden is given over to a 12 foot trampoline and a Barbie pink playhouse – the kids’ garden! I have tried to create a romantic, wild garden where I feel I am facilitating nature rather than inflicting myself on it – don’t expect a perfect garden! The garden also caters for wildlife and the plants are closely planted to create a “tapestry” of colours and textures. I hope you will enjoy our garden and I hope it will illustrate the fact that a garden can meet the whole family’s needs. Guide dogs only please. (Don’t want to upset my new puppies!)

7 Chartwell - Pictures On The Day

Index of Sites / Index 2008 / Map 2008 / List of Gardens 2008