A country idyll looks effortless but we all know gardening takes time and expertise.
For Andrew and Sarah Ratcliffe, developing the two-acre garden at their home, Hoopers Farm, is a joint effort taken on with enthusiasm. Attracted by the stunning setting, the couple moved to the property in 1993. “We were looking for somewhere with some land for our horses but the main attraction of Hoopers Farm was the view. We are on the southern edge of Mayfield, within walking distance of the village, and have superb uninterrupted views over the Rother Valley,” says Sarah. Set on a gentle south-facing slope which melds into fields, the borrowed view beyond was always a factor in coming to decisions on how the garden would look. Over time the scene has been beautifully conceived, slowly and with care, evolving from the existing palette of a few shrubs, a small herbaceous border, some mature trees including silver birch and lime, and swathes of daffodils.
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