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Garden Name: Eastgrove Cottage Garden
Last Modified: 13/03/2009
Garden ID: 0126

pic: 0126_eastgrove.jpg

Owner: Malcom and Carol Skinner
Address:
Sankyns Green
Shrawley
Little Witley
Postcode: WR6 6LQ
County: Worcestershire

tel: 01299 896389
fax: 
website: www.eastgrove.co.uk
email: 

Features: 
Peace and tranquillity. Many curving borders with one long herbaceous border and a backcloth of old fruit trees, clematis, and climbing roses. Two raised areas with less usual alpines and small treasures. A secret garden where colour is of great importance. Many plantings where foliage, shape and form are paramount. Spring garden, very unusual pots and containers. Shaded areas, old roses tumbling from trees. Excellent nursery. New 2 acre meadow being planted.
Features in "The English Garden" by Ursula Buchan, published in autumn 2006

English Heritage Grade:
II

Opening Times:
23rd Apr - 18th July; Thurs - Sat; 2pm - 5pm & BH Sunday, and Mondays in May
10th Sept - 9th Oct; Thurs - Fri; 2pm - 5pm
Open Bank Holiday Sundays & Mondays
Closed August.
Closed - 18th, 19th & 20th June - for Golden Wedding celebrations!

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
End of June

To see: 
Roses, Herbaceous

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: By arrangement

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £4; Child free
RHS members free on presentation of membership ticket.

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

Other Facilities:
Light refreshments include home made ice cream.
Picnics are allowed in car park only.


Designer: Malcolm and Carol Skinner
Description of Garden:
This perfumed garden surrounds a 17th century half timbered yeoman farmhouse - indeed it wraps it around with beds and borders just bursting with a tumbling abundance of old cottage favourites. Roses, Pinks, Violas, Aquilegias, Iris and Lavender to name but a few. Full of flowing curves, the whole is held together by a meticulously clipped Lonicera nitida hedge. This is the backbone of the flower garden and it leads you into the secret garden, with its carefully chosen colour theme of pink, mauve, silver and burgundy. The artistry of the planting somehow manages to be unpretentious and in no way contrived. A rose tunnel leads to 'The Great Wall of China' where some more unusual rock and alpine plants hold sway. There are short mown paths leading into the small arboretum known as 'The Glade' and thence to the 'The Grove' which blends most beautifully with the surrounding Worcestershire countryside.

There is a more sophisticated planting around the splendid 40ft long timber and brick mediaeval barn with many interesting subjects on the west, north and south walls. Several parts of the garden are linked with charming brick paths - at all times using materials to hand. The whole is surrounded by 5 acres of unspoiled meadow and woodland.

Eastgrove was used in Geoff Hamilton's Cottage Garden series (BBC TV) and has been featured in many periodicals - Country Life, The Times, Daily Telegraph, Country Living, RHS Journal etc. It is a garden that is visited by people from all over the world and is great source of joy, peace and inspiration for many.


History: 
Malcolm and Carol Skinner started working in this garden in 1970. Each area has evolved either through the inspiration of this wonderful place or by natural dictates of soil and conditions. Eastgrove Cottage had been open to the public since 1975.

Local Inns: 
Witley Court (English Heritage)
with light lunches and teas at the 'Villa Fore' by Great Witley Church.

Accomodation: 
Crown & Sandys Arms, Ombersley

Restaurants: 
Many good eating places in nearby Ombersley

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
City of Worcester, 8 miles