Today’s Treasures
Wollerton Old Hall Garden
I was invited to visit this intriguing garden by Jane Bebbington of Dearnford (now Alderford) Lake. We were talking about gardens and she said: “What? You’ve never been to Wollerton Old Hall? Then I’ll take you.” It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in late Spring and I was absolutely stunned by the sheer artistry of the garden. Every step you take there is a different vista of flowers, rainbows of colours, framed by oak gateways and wrought iron arches, sculptured trees and manicured hedges – it feels like walking through a living art gallery.
John, my husband, is an artist and I longed to show him the garden – we finally visited this summer and he, like me, was enchanted. From the moment you step inside the garden you feel like Alice in Wonderland – you can almost imagine a Cheshire Cat smiling down at you from an oak tree – then vanishing into thin air.
The variety of flowers is amazing – and changes with every twist and turn – lavenders and roses, heliotropes and hostas interspersed with foxgloves and hollyhocks; beds of lilies, immaculate lawns border phlox and salvias dotted with verbena and mulleins; white and blue agapanthus have a whole border to themselves.
Sundials stand immobile as the sun shadows the hours, and time stands still as you pause in wonder at the rainbows of colours, the honey scent of stocks fading to the delicate perfume of roses as another wrought iron gate opens a new page, a whole new landscape of colours and shapes.
Clematis and roses scramble over archways, pergolas and ancient brick walls, with shady benches to relax, close your eyes for a moment, and immerse yourself in the sheer tranquillity of growing things.
When your senses are totally saturated with nature’s palette of colours and scents, you can relax in the café and enjoy home-made cakes and proper afternoon tea in real china cups.
Although Wollerton Hall is a 16th Century House, the garden has been recently designed and developed by Lesley and John Jenkins who bought the hall and its 4 acres in 1983. For more information visit www.wollertonoldhallgarden.com
Or better still see the real thing
Wollerton Old Hall Garden, Wollerton, Market Drayton TF9 3NA
This article was published in the August edition of the Whitchurch Gossip and the Drayton Gossip