The Garden House
RHS Partner Garden
Free RHS Member days
January–March and October–December, Friday–Sunday, when open
About the garden
This glorious garden nestles in a quiet valley on the fringe of Dartmoor National Park. It’s development began in the mid-1940s when Lionel Fortescue, the son of one of Cornwall’s Newlyn painters, started transforming the two-acre walled garden of his new home. He then turned his attention to the surrounding fields and created an inspiring, colourful garden that opened to the public over 62 years ago. Lionel’s inspirational approach was characterised by a meticulous attention to detail and colour, and zero tolerance for plants that were not performing well. This attention to detail continues today.
There are five terraces in the walled garden. They include formally planted areas such as a tennis court, a camellia walk and a lower terrace of stunning long borders. The lower terrace snakes around medieval ruins, including a thatched barn and stone tower. In late spirng, the pastoral view through the Cottage Garden toward the church tower of neighbouring Buckland Monachorum has become an iconic shot for photographers.
Facilities
- Assistance dogs only
- Parking
- Plant sales
- Refreshments
- Toilets
Key features
- Wildflower meadow
- Arboretum
- Pond or lake
- Autumn colour
- Winter garden
Get involved
The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.