Antipodean dreaming

Discover a subtropical paradise in Fareham at 8 Birdwood Grove, home to Jayne and Eddie McBride

- Leigh Clapp

Foliage is the focus at 8 Birdwood Grove, but not with what you may expect in an English town garden, rather the inspiration is from warmer climes, specifically Australia and New Zealand.

This journey of a garden has evolved over many years to accommodate Jayne and Eddie McBride’s passion for what they call ‘wow-factor’ plants with a strong architectural presence. The now lush garden set out in four climate zones is dense and green with splashes of bright exotic flowers, however it has emerged from a very different look when the couple bought the house in 1988. “There was a tiny lawn, a big bed on the south side full of old fruit trees, a few shrubs and perennials, a very narrow border on the north side and a paving slab and grass path straight down the middle, while the far end was a dreadfully overgrown jumble with a lot of brambles,” recalls Jayne.

“We had visited family ‘down under’ and I had developed a taste for Antipodean plants”

Green fingers run in the family for Jayne and a plant-based haven is important. “My childhood garden was wonderful; immaculately laid out and very productive. My father is a very keen produce grower so I had lots of knowledge of what a good garden should look like, but initially no experience,” she explains. Fortunately, the soil, although clay and chalk, had been worked well for decades and there was a good loam base, albeit with lots of stones and flint that needed to be removed.