Down a long lane leading to a tiny hamlet with a pretty church, you will find the Old Rectory, a beautiful house and garden in a lovely setting.
It was a very hot evening and we were greeted with a glass of homemade elderflower cordial and given a brief history of the house and garden before going on a tour.
We started by the main border which was full of cleomes, cornflowers and cosmos together with roses and large clumps of perennials such as giant scabious. It was backed by an impressive display of sweet peas.
Going up some steps, we went into the old kitchen garden to find that the sweet peas covered a very long arch along one wall with the original glasshouse on the opposite wall. It was still very much in use and full of beans, salad vegetables, herbs and fruit bushes. The area also served as a cutting garden with many dahlias.
Passing by the swimming pool, we admired the enormous containers of agapanthus and the espaliered pears on the old wall before walking across the drive to a large area with an orchard of apples and pears and more fruit and vegetable plots.
Returning to the main garden, we found more borders with many home grown plants including a many dahlias. We then descended a flight of steps to find an expansive lawn leading to a large lake with a striking jet d’eau and sculptures along the lakeside walk.
Finally, we returned to the house for tea and cakes and some welcome shade. On the way out we were tempted by a table laden with a variety of home-made jams with the proceeds going to charity.
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