Originally part of the old kitchen garden of the Strathwell estate and now sheltered from the salty gales by the walls and trees, Tom Smith’s one acre garden at ‘The Old Coach House, Strathwell Park, Kemming Road, Whitwell was designed 13 years ago to be a garden for all seasons.
Tom, chairman of the Ventnor Botanic Garden Friends’ Society, has previously opened his garden in the summer and it will be an opportunity to see it as an autumn garden.
It is a delightful place with a variety of walks and plantings. There is a stream that runs down to the Eastern Yar and a new feature is a standing stone weighing over 1 ½ tons in the southwest corner.
Coffee/tea and biscuits are included in the entry fee of £3.50. There will also be bring and buy, plant and cake stalls as well as a raffle.
Anyone is welcome to come along and can join the Friends on the day. There is parking available. Dogs are welcome provided they are kept on a lead.
Additional Information By Jonyth Hill
Tom Smith, Chairman of the VBG Friends Society developed his 1 acre garden with his late wife Elizabeth, from a blank canvas, 13 years ago. Originally the walled kitchen garden of the Strathwell Estate, it is sheltered from the vagaries of the climate by its many trees.
The stream of the eastern Yar runs through the garden with its own bridge and a new feature, a standing stone or monolith has been centred between mature alders and beeches.
A number of architectural plants include a medlar, variegated junipers, double camellias and Fatsia japonica (pictured above) with its fine foliage. The Friends have been invited to see the garden during the autumn when the foliage of such fine specimens are at their best and this glorious garden comes into its own.
Image: Tanaka Juuyoh
