Linden Barn

Linden Barn – A Hampshire Garden

In 2001, Vanessa and I started work to transform the 1/3 acre of an acre plot that came with the newly converted barn we had just moved in to. The site was not promising being an old, neglected farmyard and latterly a building site.

The transformation into a romantically beautiful English garden that took place over the next ten years was featured in many gardening and lifestyle publications. Our plan was for flowing herbaceous planting contained within topiary hedging creating an overall structure with a colour palette that changed throughout the year. The garden would feature gravel and paved pathways with seating areas that revealed interesting viewpoints where the garden might be enjoyed. This planting scheme would use combinations of subtle and bold drifts of colours using classic cottage garden plants alongside contemporary species. We also planted many specimen trees creating a woodland escape but all set against the backdrop of the old village church just across the lane.

The garden was first photographed in 2003 by Nicola Stocken Tomkins (www.gardenpix.co.uk) and appeared in the magazine 25 Beautiful Gardens. Nicola’s further visits saw the garden featured in many garden and lifestyle magazines in the UK and abroad including English Garden in 2009. Photographer Elke Borkowski shot the garden in 2010 and as a result was featured in German magazine Wohnen und Garten in January 2011.

Many articles have been written detailing the creation of the garden at Linden Barn These include Guardian Weekend (3rd July 2010) Gardens section under the title ‘English Beauty’ as well as the leading Asian luxury property magazine ‘LP’ which appeared in April 2011.

The garden was also a finalist in the prestigious Daily Mail National Garden Competition in 2007 and we have opened in support of the National Garden Scheme. www.ngs.org.uk. The NGS is an organisation we wholeheartedly support. It is run by a wonderful team of enthusiastic organisers, helpers and volunteers who’s support and encouragement has made each of our garden openings such memorable events.

We have now moved on to create a new garden and our hope is that this exciting project will be as enjoyable and rewarding as that at Linden Barn. No doubt it will be daunting, hard work and exhausting but we are sure it will be exhilarating, stimulating and worthwhile. To all those who visited our garden, thank you. Your interest, shared passions, insights and donations to the charities we support make us feel that the creation of the garden was indeed, a truly life changing experience.

For details of our new garden, its design, planning, build and planting – click here

Terry Winters

THROUGH THE SEASONS

MAY