JENNY RAWORTH GARDEN DAYS 2012
Special visits
for small groups to private gardens
DAY 5
BERKSHIRE GARDENS, NEAR HUNGERFORD
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Kirby House, Inkpen, Hungerford
Mr.& Mrs. Richard Astor
The garden is set around a beautiful C18 Queen Ann House in 7 acres of parkland. Basil Peto, brother of the famous garden designer Harold Peto, lived here and is responsible for laying out much of the original gardens. Katherine Astor, the present owner, has lavished much attention on the gardens adding new areas and sculptures bringing the old garden back to life. She has replanned the walled garden with two huge colourful long borders divided by a central pathway which is designed to be in flower for the whole summer. A William Pye water feature has been added near the house and also a spectacular wrought iron pergola together with other elegant sculptures throughout the garden. Don’t miss the amazing horticulturally inspired gate leading into the park! There are mirror borders in the white garden planted with white wisteria and Duchesse de Nemours peonies. I loved the vistas through the park leading down to the lake and huge waterside plantings. This is a really beautiful garden in a wonderful setting.
Mount Prosperous, Hungerford
Roderick and Bindy Kent
We really loved this garden when we visited last summer with its perfect setting and views to die for. Roses are Bindy’s thing and her walled Rose Garden is her ‘piece de resistance’. It was even used by David Austin for their catalogue it is so good. There is a raised viewing platform to look down on the garden and where we could admire both the roses and the herbaceous plantings. Bindy has also designed and made the shell decorations on the wall. There is a very successful wild flower meadow with winding pathways. An Italianate swimming pool lies at the other end of the garden, where there is a pond with a cascade tumbling down from the steep bank behind. The viewing seat here looks back to the house through lovely woodland planting. This is a really romantic garden with wonderful colour schemes and so much to see. I am sure we will have a wonderful afternoon here. The garden is never open to the public.
Bindy has very generously agreed to give us lunch in her home. A very special day!
Meet: 10.30am Kirby House, Inkpen
Finish: 4.00pm
Transport: Own cars – directions sent with confirmation
Price: £98.00