Whitlenge Gardens & Stone House Cottage Nursery

We will start our tour at Whitlenge Gardens. One of the very first features built in the gardens 35 years ago was the twisted brick Pergola, quickly followed by a 30 foot stream, a Koi pond and a man-made ‘Cave’. Many more additions followed, with the owners’ latest and most adventurous being a new mini Castle with four turrets, five waterfalls and two moats, plus a fully planted Living Wall feature.

The owners have now established a permanent fairy trail with fairy villages in amongst the garden features!

Alan Titchmarsh filmed here and showcased the amazing Moongate and Living Hornbeam Gazebo on his TV programmes.

Guests will take lunch in the beautiful tearoom and there is also a large gift shop for that little something to take home. A large plant nursery stocks a full range of seasonal shrubs and trees.

After lunch we will make the short journey to Stone House Cottage Nursery.

Stone House Cottage garden is small, only ¾ of an acre. The walled garden was bought in 1974, ploughed up and turned into the ‘show garden’ for the adjoining nursery. James Arbuthnott subsequently adorned the walls with a series of brick follies.

Louisa Arbuthnott has a passion for plants and grows a very large (and ever increasing) range of unusual specimens. These are grown in different microclimates and areas around the garden with a wildflower meadow and a very large range of woodland plants. Each plant has to earn its keep, so there is a certain amount tinkering.

The garden specialises in climbers and lesser grown herbaceous plants. Many of the herbaceous plants are for sale in the nursery.

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