Audacious New Rock Garden at Doddington

The scale of Doddington’s new Rock garden is not immediately apparent.  As you enter the gates from the formal sunken garden where picnics are held on midsummer’s evenings it looks as though you might be treated to a small rockery with alpines, which might be upstaged by the glorious views across the parkland. Look left though and a series of ponds, mature Cordylines, a quarry face cascade and a picturesque sunken path a la Aysgarth make you realise you are in an authentic Edwardian restoration

Amicia and Richard Oldfield are developing the garden with the passion of the designer-owner. As well as the snowdrop and bluebell walks, acid-loam woodland (unusual on the chalk downs) and famous billowing yew hedges there is talk of a future stumpery and arboretum.

The folly has been described as a ‘bit of Hampton Court’, and the intimate room at the top of a muralled spiral staircase would be the perfect spot for a romantic tryst.  

The Oldfields are not confined to recreating the past however, as shown by the bold and effective mirrored millennium sundial. Amicia's style is 'full of whimsy' - watch the website to see if a castellated yew becomes a future reality. 

Garden opens for the 2009 season on Easter Sunday

http://www.doddingtonplacegardens.co.uk