Brook Cottage garden, Nr Banbury, Oxfordshire

I recently visited the garden at Brook Cottage and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is in the area. It is very attractive and I particularly enjoyed the well chosen planting. Here is a slideshow of some of the highlights.

The garden was started in1964 by an architect and a plantswoman. It is 4 acres and roughly shaped like an elongated rectangle. The seventeenth century house and barn are made from yellow Hornton stone and are positioned in one corner of the site. There is a brook (a small stream) running down one long side and a source of underground water which has allowed the creation of a lake, a pond and bog garden. The water features are very well laid out and  give the garden an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.

The garden also has the advantage of being on a number of different levels as there is quite a slope to the site. This helps to hide parts of the garden from view, so turning a corner produces a whole new visual experience. Apart from the water features there are formal flower borders,  a rose garden, a small courtyard garden, a vegetable garden  and many interesting trees including a variegated Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

The small barn has been turned into a visitor’s serve yourself refreshment area with comfy chairs and tables. There is tea, coffee and biscuits. You can sit in comfort and admire the view, which we did. Just inside the entrance is a small plant sales area. The garden has a website here.