The Secret Garden of Somerset

A Garden for all Seasons...

The beautiful gardens at Kilver Court have an unusual history and the green space was originally preserved over a 100 years ago by Ernest Jardine, a progressive industrialist, who wanted to give his workers inspirational working conditions and the opportunity to improve their diet through vegetable allotments.

Although some form of gardens and lake have existed here since Jardine’s time, the three acre plot has only been open to the public for a short time. It has been a secret kept under lock and key, but now you are invited to come and enjoy these beautiful grounds.

Rock Garden and Charlton Viaduct
In 1960 the Showering family, of Babycham fame and fortune, were so enthused by an award winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show that they commissioned a grander version to be planted within the viaduct setting. It was a bold and modern design statement, to which they added water features with water pumped from the original mill pond.

George Whitelegg’s Gold Medal winning rock garden is the most prominent garden at Kilver Court. It is a mature rockery built using boulders from the Forest of Dean to edge a man-made stream and waterfall, a well controlled riot of colour and organic shape. alt

Conifers provide the larger geometric blocks, featuring Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea', mid-green Picea abies 'Albertiana Conica' and the golden columns of Taxus baccata 'Standishii’.
Japanese acers show seasonal variation from deep autumnal rusts and purples to delicate spring greens (look out for the burgundy-leafed palmatum dissectum).

Between the rocks hostas, ferns, sedums, rock roses, hardy geraniums, dianthus (flashing light) and helianthemums perch, before the ground hugging primulas, alpine heathers and thyme tuffets (thymus serpyllum) lead your eye and feet to manicured Cumbrian turf.

Parterre and Herbaceous Gardens

Roger Saul, creator of the Mulberry fashion label and Sharpham Park food brand, designed the parterre and herbaceous borders in 1996 when he took over the location and breathed new life into the gardens. The parterre is based on the classic French geometric designs found in Les Invalides, and is an immaculate example of low box hedging. The spaces within the hedges have been filled with roses.

alt

Juxtaposing the formal parterre are vibrantly coloured herbaceous borders. Fiery crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, phlox, indigo hued polemonium and aconitum, globe shaped dahlias and echinops, and delicate orchid-like Tricyrtis formosana form a sensual backdrop full of delicate texture and shape. Nori Pope, the colourist and renovator of Hadspen Gardens, was an inspiration for these.

Organic Vegetable Garden
In 2009 an organic vegetable garden was added in the spirit of Jardine’s original philanthropic garden scheme, to provide an educational space for local school children.

Kilver Court gardens offer something for the garden enthusiast all year round, whether it be when in full summer bloom, or the magical colours of autumn and winter. We can even arrange for a tour and talk for your group or party, please just contact the events team This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01749 340410.

Click here for admission prices and opening times.