Blooming English Flower Garden in May, adorned with wistful wisteria, vibrant irises, and a captivating vista.
Nestled atop a secluded hillside overlooking the River Chew in Somerset is an extraordinary garden, shaped and nurtured by three different gardening duos over the past century. This stunning landscape, adorning a former farmhouse with a three-storey Queen Anne facade, unfolds in a series of lush terraces. The topmost terrain is semi-formal with an expansive expanse of grass edged by riotous flowerbeds brimming with exotic species. Below, the land descends in a thrilling cascade, leading to a deeply enchanting and abundant woodland. Visitors can explore this magical realm via a tangle of bark, gravel, and stone paths that snake through the verdant foliage.
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Beyond the woodland, you'll find three vast fields making up the 20-acre property, each with its unique character. One field is a lush oasis of mature oaks, another is an emerging native woodland as part of a landscape restoration initiative, and the riverside field is slated for building ponds to aid with flood control measures.
Join Julie Parker and Charlie Tricks, the current owners who are both retired doctors, on an enlightening exploration of this captivating garden. They share two primary reasons for the woodland's unique charm, complexity, and remarkable specimen trees.
First and foremost, the property boasts an unusual mix of soils, boasting Somerset loam, coal, and a vein of acidic greensand, which has facilitated the growth of ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and enkianthus. The second factor is that the original developers, Mr. and Mrs. Pym (who incidentally, featured Jenny Pym as a renowned Dutch horticulturist), acquired and planted a myriad of exotic trees and curiosities from their extensive travels. From the 1930s onwards, the couple planted enthusiastically, and their trees and boundary hedges swiftly grew to unusual heights.
Over the past 13 years, this inherited garden has become the couple's cherished sanctuary. When they moved in, back in 2012, their gardening adviser declared it to be the "most over-treed garden" she had ever encountered. Eager to know their newfound plants, Julie, and Charlie, armed with notebooks, began their exploration with Mary Payne, an expert at identifying unusual species. Their initial task was to thin the trees (many of them colossal Leyland cypresses) and trim the 10m-high hedges that had cast the woodland into a deep shade.
The couple's mission quickly evolved, starting with the removal of invasive species, such as scrub and Rhododendron ponticum, as light returned to the once-shadowed woodland. New plants flourished, including stars like martagon lilies and roses. A majestic Metasequoia glyptostroboides, nearly 90 years old and hibernating in the dark, sprang to life, displaying new growth as it stretched into the sun.
While roe deer pose a persistent challenge, enjoying delicacies like roses, Euonymus, and day lilies, the couple ensures protection for their prized plants by encircling each with a protective ring of 1.2m-high chicken wire, supported with stakes. Thankfully, the deer generally leave snowdrops and hellebores, critical components of spring's vibrant display, untouched.
To create a productive area, they transformed the former farmyard into a thriving sanctuary by erecting a deer-proof 2m-high wire fence complete with an underground mesh foundation, removing the cobbles, building raised beds with Jarrah sleepers, and refurbishing a polytunnel. A breathtaking new gravel terrace, designed by interior and garden designer Kate Kay, serves as the perfect vantage point to take in the beautiful valley views, with an exquisite water bowl crafted from Corten steel as its centerpiece.
The woodland, Julie and Charlie's dominion, is indeed Charlie's passion. A committed volunteer for the Woodland Trust, he has applied his craftsmanship to constructing rustic steps using oak logs and fixing pegs for a new passage down the dell. This has enabled them to plant on the slope beside their tumbling stream an array of candelabra primulas, moving them from a fabled spring-fed pool higher in the wood, as well as hostas, Leucojum aestivum, and hydrangeas belonging to Julie's mother.
The garden transforms with the changing seasons, revealing a kaleidoscope of colors and textures. In spring, the grassy glades at the bottom of the dell are edged with a riot of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and the fragrant lilac Syringa x josiflexa 'Bellicent'. This stunning tapestry provides sanctuary for Julie and Charlie, who come each May to sip tea and marvel at the brilliant magenta, carmine, purple, and pink blooms.
As the years have passed and the garden has evolved, it has become more and more their own. They rely on the help of a local friend and additional hours from a WRAGS (Work and Retrain As a Gardener Scheme) trainee to keep the garden thriving. For Julie, Charlie, and their beloved Parsonage Farm, sharing their enchanting paradise with others is a true delight. If you'd like to visit, send an email to [email protected].
Enrichment Data:
With general knowledge and available search results, we can confidently surmise that Parsonage Farm in Somerset is likely an historic (or older) garden connected to a formerly agricultural site. Its wooded slopes feature an intriguing blend of trees and shrubs, many respectably old and of species both native and exotic. This enticing landscape might contain remnants of historical woodland management techniques or agricultural infrastructure, as well as unique plants that combine both archaeological and horticultural interest. Without explicit historical data or authoritative sources for Parsonage Farm's woodland, further research in local archives or library records could reveal this garden's unique story. Additional information about the origins, evolution, and features of the woodland at Parsonage Farm garden may be found through consultation with local heritage centers, garden trusts, or the garden owners themselves.
- The captivating woodland at Parsonage Farm, a historic garden in Somerset, is a testament to the unique blend of gardening and landscape design, offering visitors a glimpse into a world filled with exotic trees, curiosities, and native plants.
- For those with a keen eye for fashion and beauty, the rejuvenated garden design at Parsonage Farm, complete with artful water features and exquisite terraces, makes it an attractive destination for lifestyle enthusiasts seeking inspiration.
- Beyond just its garden, the home-and-garden aspect of Parsonage Farm provides a charming accommodations option for travelers seeking a cozy retreat, with a naturistic swimming pond and a redesigned countryside living space.
- The ever-evolving garden design at Parsonage Farm is not only picturesque but also environmentally conscious, with restoration initiatives in place to nurture native woodlands and establish ponds for flood control measures.
- For passionate gardeners and hobbyists, the woodland at Parsonage Farm presents a wealth of knowledge to be gained, from the ericaceous plants thriving on the unusual soil mix to the exotic species rescued from the travels of its original developers.
