The 300-Year-Old Garden

Generous daubs of colour and just a hint of formality come together to provide a charming setting for a centuries-old thatched cottage, says Sue Bradley

- Sue Bradley

GREAT soil is the secret ingredient to many a beautiful garden, and the space surrounding Fiona and Nigel Tustain’s 18th century cottage is no exception.

Generations of vegetable growers have left the couple with a fertile and friable dark loam that’s just the job for nutrient-hungry roses and ensures that perennials such as lupins and poppies return year after year.

The soil’s moisture-retentive qualities mean that the couple are able to maintain a verdant lawn, which provides a calming foil to beds of colourful flowers and foliage. It also supports a collection of old apples, a mature wisteria trained over an arbour seat and a variety of other trees that contribute structure and character to the overall space.

“Our cottage dates back more than 300 years and was once three properties,” explains Fiona.

“Everybody who has lived here has had an input when it comes to the soil, and we’re continuing this tradition by making our own compost to add more organic matter to our beds and borders.”

Ornamental plants had pretty much replaced vegetables by the time Nigel and Fiona moved in 26 years ago – a theme the couple have developed to create the pretty garden that now surrounds their home.

Colour and perfume