*************
Garden Owners,
Please copy this information and paste it into an email to:   wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com

Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us.

Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
*************



Garden Name: Brook Cottage
Last Modified: 27/01/2011
Garden ID: 0071

pic: 0071_brookcottage.jpg

Owner: Mrs D Hodges
Address:
Well Lane
Alkerton
Banbury
Postcode: OX15 6NL
County: Oxford

tel: 01295 670303
fax: 01295 730362
website: www.brookcottagegarden.co.uk
email: oldworkshops {at} btinternet.com

Features: 
All the wooden garden furniture is specially designed and hand-made - several of the pieces were commissioned to celebrate special anniversaries.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
Easter Monday - end October; Monday - Friday incl BHs.; 9am - 6pm.
Evening / Weekends by appointment.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
June - Sept

To see: 
Shrubs, roses, herbaceous borders, bog plants, clematis

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: Mons 25 Apr; 29 Aug (9-6)

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £5; Child free; Over 60s £4; Season tickets available

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: No
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: No

Other Facilities:
Food & refreshments for groups booked in advance. DIY tea/coffee and biscuits for individual visitors. Cream teas on Bank Holiday Mondays.


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
The four acre garden has been formed by an architect and a plantswoman almost entirely since 1964 on the west facing slope of a valley. Apart from a small area above the 17th century house, the whole site consisted of rough pasture. The landscaping has been designed to link level areas of lawn and terrace with the natural slopes and to create enclosures with yew and copper beech hedges. Groups of now mature trees and shrubs growing in grass, merge the garden into the surrounding countryside.

A wide variety of plants is grown, some rarely seen, including bulbs, perennials, over 200 shrub and climbing roses, flowering and foliage shrubs, water and bog plants, and a gravel garden. A number of the borders are colour-coordinated: soft shades of pink and blue in one, 'hot' colours in another. The White Border is seen against the yew hedge, while the Yellow Border is backed by a hedge of copper beech.There is something of interest to be seen throughout the season. The water garden with primulas, iris, astilbes, day-lillies and many other bog plants is at its best from early June. The extensively planted 'hanging garden' of species, old-fashioned and modern roses for which the garden is renowned is at its peak from late June to the end of July. 

Over 60 varieties of clematis scramble over walls and shrubs and around the tennis court, many flowering from July onwards when the herbaceous perennials are at their best. A tea room in the old barn looks out onto a lawn bordered by blue and white agapanthus interspersed with kniphofias in shades of lemon and lime. The season ends with hips, berries and autumn colour. The diversity of planting is supplemented by tender perennials displayed in numerous ornamental containers.


History: 
Designed and planted by the owners over a period of some years, mainly because during the week they both lived in London where Mr David Hodges practised as an architect.

Local Inns: 
The Bell, Shenington
Moody Cow at the Wykham Arms, Sibford Gower

Accomodation: 


Restaurants: 
Moody Cow at the Wykham Arms, Sibford Gower

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Tiny early Norman church in village.