Nestled in the idyllic St Catherine’s Valley near Bath, the gardens of this elegant stone house were re-designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd in 2015 so that they transitioned into, and related to the wider valley landscape.  Ten years later, the mature garden was under the care of head gardener Andrew Cannell, who had to navigate new challenges not least the destructive influence of the local deer and the low light levels in this steep, north-facing valley. Andrew has now moved to the Isle of Man and a new head gardener is charged with taking the garden forward.

This hillside garden has multiple levels connected by elegant hard landscaping solutions, which themselves are softened to blend in with the landscape.  Steps with Bath Stone risers and grass treads for example, and the self-seeding of Erigeron and wild strawberry into paving cracks.  The really fascinating parts though are at the margins, where the lawns and borders seem to melt into the wild meadows beyond.