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

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Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
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Garden Name: Kilver Court Gardens
Last Modified: 26/01/2011
Garden ID: 0573

pic: 0573_Kilver_Court.jpg

Owner: Roger Saul
Address:
Kilver Street
Shepton Mallet

Postcode: BA4 5NF
County: Somerset

tel: 01749 340410
fax: 01749 340420
website: www.kilvercourt.com
email: Jessica {at} sharphamparkshop.com

Features: 
Somerset & Dorset railway viaduct spectacular backdrop to garden
Millponds
Lakes
Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning design from 1950's

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
All year; Apr - Oct; Mon - Sat; 9.30am - 5pm; (last entry 4pm)Sun & BH Mons 10am - 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Nov - Mar; Mon - Sun; 10am - 4pm (last entry 3pm)

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
March - November

To see: 
Rhododendrons, azaleas, varied rockery plants, aliums, roses

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: Yes
Comments: Wed 18 May (10-4). Adm £3.50, chd free

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: Informative talk available by request

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: Only by appointment 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult £5; OAP or group booking £4.50; Children: 6-16 £2; Under 6 yo FREE ENTRY
Groups £4.50 (adult)

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

Other Facilities:
Partial disabled access


Designer: George Whitelegg
Description of Garden:


The Gardens feature a millpond and boating lake as well as rolling lawns, parterre and herbaceous borders. But the most staggering feature of this secret garden is the backdrop - a vast Grade II listed viaduct built for the Somerset and Dorset railway in the 1800's and which now acts as a link to the rolling Somerset countryside beyond. In addition, following the success of the vegetable garden at Sharpham Park, Jardine's concept of model fruit and vegetable activation will be reinstated with the establishment of a sustainable bio-dynamic system both for education and to supply organic produce to the Shop and Cafˇ. Plants that you will see throughout your walks through the garden are for sale at the entrance, along with other British plants, shrubs and trees. 


History: 
The Gardens were first created by Ernest Jardine as a recreational space for factory workers of Kilver Court in the 1800's and were known as Jardine's Park and Vegetable Gardens, In the 1960's, they were restored and developed by the Showering family of Babycham fame, who commissioned George Whitelegg to recreate his Gold Medal winning Chelsea Flower Show rockery garden within the setting. At the time the garden was a bold and modern design statement. Since then, the Gardens have been a hidden secret for the past 25 years.

Local Inns: 


Accomodation: 
Charlton House

Restaurants: 
Charlton House

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Mulberry Factory shop