About the garden
Owned by
Peter and Jo Stott
This is a plantsperson’s nursery in the heart of the Eden Valley where Romanesque walls and bountiful borders provide a beautiful backdrop to gardens bursting with more than 15,000 varieties of plants. An extensive range of rare and unusual shrubs, perennials and climbers are available to buy at Larch Cottage or through our mail order service with specialities including Japanese acers, old-fashioned roses, dwarf conifers and ornamental grasses; for many of these varieties Larch Cottage is the country’s only supplier, as listed in the RHS Plantfinder. Of the huge range of plants available, the vast majority are grown on site in the frozen north.
Nestled at the bottom of the nursery are the private chapel and gardens, a tranquil space with meandering paths, lush flower beds, a wildflower meadow, an orchard and lawns with a stream leading down into a small lake with the chapel at its head, built by Peter for his wedding to Joanne in 2014. These gardens are open on selected days throughout the year with proceeds going to local charities including Hospice at Home and the NGS.
Larch Cottage is also home to the renowned La Casa Verde Restaurant, offering a taste of the Mediterranean using local produce, much of which is grown in the nursery's own organic kitchen garden. With its open terrace overlooking the gardens, cosy indoor spaces and tempting seasonal menus, La Casa Verde is a year-round destination in its own right.
Also on site is Red Barn Gallery, an ever-changing art space with jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and paintings, exhibiting the work of some of the best British and European artists. Lower Red Barn is an eclectic mix of quality regalia and gifts hand-picked by Peter and Joanne from distant shores.
