Pull quote 'The planting is varied and ranges from a soothing palette of cool greens and whites in the Upper Rill Garden to the fiery hues of the Lanyydrock Garden'
As an enthusiastic visitor of Cheshire gardens, it’s also nice to occasionally wander over the border to see what neighbouring counties have to offer. Wollerton Old Hall in Shropshire is one of my favourites, with four acres of garden rooms, each a delight in its own right and packed with glorious planting.
The owners since 1983 have been John and Lesley Jenkins, and for Lesley, it was a return to her childhood home. The historical nature of the property and its grounds needed a very careful touch when it came to the design, and Lesley created an Arts and Crafts-inspired haven, with formal structure coming from the linear lines and inspired use of topiary and water features. The planting is varied and ranges from a soothing palette of cool greens and whites in the Upper Rill Garden to the fiery hues of the Lanyydrock Garden, whose hot colours come into their own from mid-summer onwards. Walking through this ‘room’, which lies almost at the centre of the garden, you encounter the Long Walk which crosses from the top of the garden to the bottom and takes you through archways covered in clematis and flanked by scented phlox, actaea and colourful dahlias.
The house, which is not open to the public, was built in the 16th century and is timber framed and Grade II listed. It provides a perfect backdrop to the gardens and when viewed from the front is adorned with climbing roses and a magnificent pot display. In spring when the garden opens for the season, these are filled with tulips, followed by a colourful mix of dahlias and perennials later in the season.
I last visited in June two years ago, and the garden was looking at its early summer best, with roses, iris and a beautiful white Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ in the Well Garden. I loved the way the planting softened the hard landscaping, and there are plenty of ideas to take away. Something as simple as Alchemilla mollis and the blue Irises ‘Silver Edge’ and ‘Tropic Night’ looks spectacular here, and is a combination that is so easy to recreate at home. One of my favourite irises in flower on that visit though was Iris ‘Staten Island’, which is a tall bearded iris in shades of golden yellow and rich claret, gracing the Lanyydrock Garden.
As the garden enters its fifth decade, the arrival of head gardener Claire Tatler, who joined the team earlier this year, marks a new chapter of innovation. This summer, visitors will be able to see the redesigned Well Garden, which promises to be something very special. If you’ve visited before and are familiar with the garden, the magnificent yew pyramids remain, but in a collaboration between Lesley and John Jenkins and esteemed garden designer Pip Smith, the area has been given a more spacious and contemporary feel. There will also be an art trail, and the popular summer stroll event returns, where visitors can enjoy a 6pm glass of wine, and an early evening meander around the garden followed by supper in the tearoom. It's the perfect excuse for a summer revisit.
Alison Moore of Renaissance Garden Design is a garden designer and photographer based in Sale. She writes a blog about her garden and other gardens she visits. renaissance-gardendesign.co.uk Twitter: @renaissancegd
Instagram: @alisonmoore
Wollerton Old Hall, Market Drayton TF9 3NA
Other gardens to visit within easy reach of Cheshire
Biddulph Grange – a Victorian garden owned by the National Trust, with trails, hidden tunnels and a pyramid. Great outdoor fun for kids of all ages. Located between Macclesfield and Stoke on Trent. ST8 7SD
Dorothy Clive Garden – on the Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire border, this is a 12-acre garden with an impressive collection of plants including magnificent rhododendrons and azaleas in the quarry garden. TF9 4EU
Goldstone Hall Hotel – a wonderful rural hotel with beautiful gardens near Market Drayton, and close to both Wollerton Old Hall and Dorothy Clive Gardens. TF9 2NA
Hodnet Hall – lots to discover in these gardens including a 17th-century dovecot and Tithe Barn. Hodnet, near Market Drayton TF9 3NN
Trentham Gardens – the stand-out feature for me is the Italian Garden, revived by renowned designer Tom Stuart-Smith with one of the largest contemporary perennial plantings in Europe. ST4 8JG
