Chrissie Rucker OBE loves the sense of calm that living with white can bring, and has built a multi-millionpound business - The White Company - on her belief that plenty of other people feel the same, so it's no surprise to discover that she applies the same pared-back aesthetic to her garden making. For 15 years she has lived in a lovely 17th-century house with her husband Nick Wheeler OBE (founder of menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt) and their four children, and the ten acres of gardens that enclose their family home are as picture-perfect as a White Company catalogue.
A meandering gravel drive leads through sweeping parkland to the front door, framed by a long-flowering succession of fragrant, white roses - R. William and Catherine (= Ausrapper'), R. Claire Austin (= 'Ausprior') and R. Tranquillity (= Ausnoble) - among others. The Grade I-listed building is wrapped on all sides by softly elegant garden areas, including deep lavender beds and a traditional parterre, but it is the one-acre walled garden that is closest to Chrissie's heart.
Approached via a new covered entrance set into the old brick walls, it is as captivating as any storybook secret garden. "This is one of my favourite places and I love nothing more than to wander through it, seeing what has changed, and cutting seasonal flowers, herbs and greenery,' says Chrissie. "We might read or work here quietly, but it's also a place that loves to be filled with friends and family for long lunches and fun evenings. And at sunset, the warm, low light coming through the trees feels particularly magical."
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
Giving your free time to volunteer in the community or as a mentor can have a big impact, and also benefit you in ways you can't imagine, says John Wyer
EARTHLY CONCERN
Weeds, slugs, birds and mice - all are welcome on Birch Farm in Devon, where Joshua Sparkes seeks to respect the local ecosystem and mimic nature in his innovative approach to growing
Gardening is good for you
In the first of his new factual column on the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Claxton uncovers all the evidence-based ways it can help your physical health.
TANGERINE DREAM
On the edge of one of London's busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Growing your own edible plants is a great way to boost your gut microbiome. Discover expert picks of edimentals that are both beautiful and beneficial
Waste not, nice plot
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love
One for all
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents and garden lovers alike
Meet our horticultural HEROES
Discover the stories of the extraordinary garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
In the culinary world, chefs and food writers sometimes closely guard their recipes, says Nigel Slater. Among gardeners, however, there is a refreshing spirit of generosity
Autumn at Sissinghurst
As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds.
