Downton Hall

Realising that we have now pretty much filled all the space at Stokesay (although we’re burying our heads in the sand about about that North-facing wall), and beginning to look around in the winter for some more land to expand into, we have been very lucky indeed to stumble upon a second walled garden to grow flowers in. The walled garden at Downton Hall, about fifteen minutes’ drive away from Stokesay Court and also in South Shropshire, is currently two acres of grass, with four old apple trees and I think forty strange and dramatic clipped yews, which stride up the centre of the steeply sloping garden. It is very exciting. This morning a crack team of six were making new beds (no dig, so easy), weeding the base of the walls and planting the first rambling roses against them. We plan to expand slowly into this new space, but we may just get carried away with the spirit of adventure.