gardening

Standerwick Court Gardens – A Class of their Own

A new garden that feels ancient – 7th July 2026 Words and pictures by Dominic Weston You can see the Westbury white horse from one of the terraces – so is this the best garden in Wiltshire? In fact, this series of gardens, terraces and parkland, hidden out of sight at the end of a long meandering drive, and opening to spectacular views, lies just inside the Somerset border, not far from Frome. The NGS describes it thus: “A hidden gem near the Somerset/Wilts border. With far-reaching views over the White Horse and Cley Hill lies a stunning Queen Anne House nestled in 76 acres of parkland. Ha-ha and woodland partially surround the formal gardens recently redesigned by Mark Lutyens and Catherine Fitzgerald to include an Italian inspired terrace, walled garden with tiki hut, tennis court, greenhouse and pool garden.” And that doesn’t even begin to do it justice, either for the imagination or the sense of history centred on a 16th century courthouse that lies at the heart of the estate. In the early 18th century, a Queen Anne house was wrapped around it, and now, in the 21st century, a series of beautifully self-contained gardens – partly designed to keep the deer out – have wrapped themselves around the historic buildings. Our guide for the sunny summer evening was Rose Monson, who explained that there were no gardens, other than some concrete surfaced yards, when they arrived in 2014. Everything we were walking through, which felt like it had evolved side by side with the buildings, was a new arrival. One of Catherine Fitzgerald’s signature designs is the… Read More »Standerwick Court Gardens – A Class of their Own

Duck Pond Barn – A Miracle in the Making

A Wiltshire Field turned Garden Words And Pictures By Dominic Weston When is the term “passion project” not nearly enough to capture the vision, determination and sheer effort to create a garden from nothing? When you’re referring to Janet and Marc Berlin’s extraordinary transformation of the field behind Duck Pond Barn, in the tiny hamlet of Wingfield, Wiltshire. Passion is an overused word these days, and in the case of the Berlins, who moved from London to Wingfield in 2015, an entirely inadequate one. In just one year they had already transformed their long and exposed strip of farmland enough to open the new garden under the NGS scheme. But they were not newbies to gardening, Janet had form… an experienced plantswoman who won a gold medal for her London garden, and when they moved, they brought an articulated lorry load of plants with them. Even so, the scale of the transformation is extraordinary, and it’s aided by the garden’s deceptive layout. Close to the barn, which sits alongside the duck pond – big enough for a boat and jetty – there is a terrace and a lovely lawned area, where we were spoiled with tea and cakes. We also learned about the charity the Berlins support, Wiltshire Portage, which helps local children with educational needs and disabilities in their own homes, before they start school. It’s a lovely space, with plenty of established trees and borders of beautiful day lilies, but it seems a bit straightforward for an NGS garden. But we’ve barely begun. The new garden takes up 1.6 acres of the whole 2-acre plot, and our group divided into two to tour… Read More »Duck Pond Barn – A Miracle in the Making

Caisson House & Gardens – Simply the Best

A visit to a hidden Somerset gem – 4th June 2025 Words and Pictures by Dominic Weston ‘Gardeners’ World’ didn’t do it justice, and in an age when so much on our screens is ‘improved’ beyond the real thing, it was with a real sense of wonder when I wandered through the gardens and grounds of Caisson House, near Bath on an early June evening this year. It wasn’t our first visit. We’d been tipped off by Flip that this was a garden not to miss — especially since it only began welcoming visitors in 2024. Our first trip was in April, for the tulip season. The standout memory? Drifts of white tulips underplanted in a blossoming orchard — a vision of spring. The real sense of wonder, though, was how much the garden had changed in just a few short weeks. Not only had the raised beds in front of the former headquarters of the Somerset Coal Canal filled out, but a whole new set of colours and forms had come to the fore: Roses, Foxgloves, Alliums, Borage, Astrantia, all tussling for attention. Around every corner there was a new perspective, a surprising framing, a new focus that drew your attention. Not in a showy ‘aren’t I clever’ way, but in a series of enticing revelations that drew you naturally from one spot to another and another, and quietly magical. Many gardens open to the public offer imaginative planting. Some sit in spectacular landscapes. Few manage both with the quiet confidence and beauty of Caisson. Nestled on the side of a wooded valley dotted with the historic remains of dry canal locks, it feels… Read More »Caisson House & Gardens – Simply the Best