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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: Tapeley Park
Last Modified: 26/01/2011
Garden ID: 0116

pic: 0116_tapelyPark.jpg

Owner: Mr H T C Christie
Address:
Instow


Postcode: EX39 4NT
County: Devon

tel: 01271 342558 between Oct 31st and March 21 then 01271-860897(direct line
fax: 
website: www.tapeley-park.com
email: enquiries {at} dreamsweaver.co.uk

Features: 
The lovely cafe is now under new management and using all the vegetables and fruit from the gardens and permaculture. Menu's are available in advance if required and orders can be taken for lunches and afternoon teas.

English Heritage Grade:
II*

Opening Times:
21st March - 31st Oct; Daily except Saturdays; 10am - 5pm.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
May - October

To see: 
The borders in full bloom.

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Pre-booked parties only 1 week in advance. Tours £2.50 pp

Admission Prices:
Adult £4; Child £2.50; Over 60s £3.50. Children under 5 free
Group rates, Adult £3.20; Child £2; Senior Citizens £2.80;
Season: Adult £15; Child £8; Over 60s £12.50

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

Other Facilities:
Limited access for disabled


Designer: Sir John Belcher
Description of Garden:
There are five distinct yet contrasting areas in these expanding gardens, now a good 45 acre site. It is best known for its formal Italian terraces renovated by Mary Keen and Carl Klein in the mid-1990's. The unique sheltered south-facing site means rare and tender plants similar to those found at Tresco can be grown. The walled Kitchen Garden, worked traditionally, is full of fruit and vegetables. In contrast there is a new vibrant Permaculture Garden demonstrating the benefits of companion planting to reduce pests and diseases. This is already looking good. No inorganic sprays or fertilisers are used on the vegetables. 

Next to the Permaculture is the Wild Garden containing a children's play area, plus a field full of fierce looking Highland cattle. Rare breed Berkshire pigs, peacocks, birds of prey, for example a Snowy owl, falcons and buzzards (displays each Sunday at 11.30am and 3pm), can be found dotted around. The lake at the bottom of a ravine through the woods surrounded by massive Thuja Plicata trees is for many the most magical part of the garden. 

The newest addition is a labyrinth built from granite from an obelisk on a monument obliterated by a thunderbolt in 1931. There are spectacular views over the estuary and Island of Lundy from there.


History: 
Lady Rosa Christie, the owner's great-grandmother called in Sir John Belcher at the end of the nineteenth century. The three Italian terraces were dug out at that time and the unique greenhouse that went the length of the Kitchen Garden was erected. They grew enough vegetables to feed most of the village of Westleigh and Instow. Prior to this the Clevelands had the lake dug out - it had a natural clay bottom - and surrounded it with the massive Thaja Plicata trees from Canada, the oldest of their kind in the country.

Local Inns: 
Westleigh Pub
Hoops Inn, Horns' Cross

Accomodation: 
Commodore
Hoops Inn, Horns' Cross

Restaurants: 
Tea Rooms
Hoops Inn, Horns' Cross

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Instow