 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Garden visits main menu >>>
Mill Dene is a most delightful garden. It surrounds an old water mill and over time the Dare family have developed its two-and-a-half acres into an intimate and very English garden landscape. For Wendy Dare, Mill Dene, has become a passion and from the very first time she and her husband Barry discovered this once half-derelict Cotswold water mill, she was smitten. She knew nothing about gardening or drainage and initially had to learn by reading books, attending lectures and visiting other gardens. Her devotion to the craft of gardening and her zeal and enthusiasm has ultimately led her to create, over the last thirty years, a landscape which is in part a typical English country garden but one which also has many twists and turns, sometimes exotic and certainly fun. The Garden:
It is because Wendy has worked with the landscape that the garden works so well. As you walk around there are surprises at every turn. The sloping terraced grounds include a lovely shell-decorated grotto by the mill stream, a potager and cricket lawn, bog garden and several wonderful places to stop, sit and enjoy the Cotswold views. Careful consideration has been given to the positioning of seats and there is definitely a different feeling in each area. Wendy is quite clear that one of the points of a garden is either to lead you somewhere or to show you something. It also has to be able to show you different things at different times of the year and Mill Dene certainly does that. Wander from the wild garden, with its sulking house, past the grotto and across to the terracing and rose garden, where you will find a quirky railway station sign and on up to the summerhouse and cricket lawn then down to the tranquility of the mill pond with its ducks and kingfishers. Until the end of September 05 there is a new sculpture exhibition in the garden by Bernard McGuigan adding even more interest. Inspiration: Plenty. The careful use of sculpture in the garden, working with a varied landscape and soil conditions. Some terrific ideas for scented plants, beds and borders. Mill Dene also offers Bed & Breakfast accommodation and who could want a more delightful place to stay. Situated right in the heart of the Cotswolds it is a good point from which to explore a whole host of other wonderful gardens including Hidcote and Kiftsgate. Mill Dene has also been awarded the VAQAS marque. Awarded on an annual basis, The Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service assesses the quality of the visitor experience at an attraction. Visitors to Mill Dene can thus be assured that they are visiting an attraction meeting VAQAS's high standards. How to get there: Mill Dene can be found in the villageof Blockley, (Junction 9 of the M5 or 3 miles from Moreton-in-the-Marsh railway station.) Log onto www.milldenegarden.co.uk for information about the garden or www.milldene.co.uk for information about B & B accommodation. © Reckless Gardener Magazine 2005 Mill Cottage New Media |
Mill Dene – an intimate and tranquil garden
Wendy admits she was influenced by Rosemary Verey's garden at Barnsley House and has also been inspired by Stone House Cottage Gardens, near Kidderminster. With the careful acquisition of additional parcels of land surrounding the water mill, Wendy has been able to work with the landscape to its best advantage. Wendy explains: "The mill is situated in a rift valley which has slipped, once I knew that it made it easier to use the landscape and to work with it rather than against it. The soil is poor in places and stony so areas have been left wild - the soil has very much dictated what went where."Additional notes Log on to Buy Online |