About Us

Mel and Jan Bates moved to Worcestershire from Yorkshire in 1981 to a garden consisting mainly of rough field. The ground here is Worcestershire blue clay, a great change from our previous garden of quick draining sand! So this was a challenge.

Over the years we have planted many ornamental trees and developed a backbone of interesting shrubs, these are then highlighted with a great range of herbaceous plants which are constantly changing through the seasons.

The original area of garden is now the most formal aspect with hornbeam hedges, a rectangular pond and borders, but the spring wildflower meadow planted with snakes head fritillary, cowslips, primroses, bluebells and miniature daffodils is a complete contrast.

The stream garden in the spring is a riot of colour from candelabra primulas, irises and pulmonarias, followed by rodgersia, astilbe and hostas.

The island beds and borders have old fashioned scented roses, chaenomeles and peonies under a canopy of trees, herbaceous plants ring the changes through the seasons providing a colourful palette.

The rockery begins its season in January when it is covered with deep pink cyclamen, and then it has an array of flowering plants such as anemone pulsatilla, species tulips, hardy geraniums and dianthus to name just a few.

Our project for the Millennium was to make a circular secret rose garden, hidden behind another hornbeam hedge, the centre has an unusual fountain surrounded by lavender.

The gravel bed which was made last year is now becoming established with mainly grasses and some ground covering plants which then are backed up by the stumpery and the ferns which are now well developed.

We have redesigned the bed which used to be a shade garden but when we lost the tree in a storm which provided the shade the planting needed to be altered to give colour through out the seasons.

The shrub bed now has a collection of mainly viburnums many of which are not commonly seen in cultivation  which we hope will provide interest in flower, leaf colour and berries for most months of the year.

The whole garden is dominated by a glorious Willow which we believe was planted in about 1965 so it does have some growth on it as does a conifer which is near the house.

We enjoy showing people around the garden and are happy to serve tea/coffee and cakes if we have prior notice of your visit.

We look forward to welcoming you.