About the garden
Owned by
John McCutchan
New for 2023: This naturalistic garden, based in a rural setting, provides a peaceful space to relax and appreciate the selection of unusual plants. Spread over 6.9 acres and comprising an Ornamental Garden and managed Wildflower Meadow, the garden is divided into three areas, offering a sensory experience with bulbs, grasses, herbaceous and woody plants producing colour, texture and scent in all seasons.
The Front Garden is dominated by a majestic Pinus sylvestris and contains the Winter Borders, Wildlife Pond, Hazel Walk and fine examples of woody shrubs and trees, including Parrotia persica, Liquidambar and Malus transitoria. Yorkstone flags and container planting surround the early 19th-century former gamekeepers cottage where every wall is clothed with climbers.
Colour is the theme of the Middle Garden. Four distinct borders surround the lawn, with pergolas providing seating and hornbeam and beech hedging creating an enclosed feeling. A commanding specimen of Quercus robur was the original inspiration for the Woodland Garden. This area is for all seasons, many bulbs, including Narcissus, provide early colour, and then a lush tapestry of foliage gives cool shade during the heat of the summer.
A fine display of Cyclamen hederifolium is admired in the autumn after which the leaves fall to show the true beauty of the oak tree form. The 5.4-acre Wildflower Meadow has mown paths and seating, allowing visitors to take time to observe the views. The meadow is also in the Higher Level Country Stewardship Scheme. The number of species present is increasing and is monitored by the Sussex Botanical Recording Society.
The McCutchan family has owned the site for 100 years, and Carolyn started planting the garden in 1968. On the circuit for horticultural tours, the garden has been featured in many publications. Since Carolyn’s death in late 2019, the garden has undergone a period of sensitive restoration. It continues to evolve, featuring colourful and imaginative planting.
