The Lookout


Featured on BBC and ITV gardening programmes, the two- acre wildlife friendly estuary-side garden at The Lookout has already attracted over 1,500 visitors on its four NGS open afternoons to date.


It has been lovingly created over seven years out of Lympstones’s derelict 1920s-built Mussel Purification Station by its garden designer owner, Jackie Michelmore.


Perched on the edge of an important wildlife reserve, Jackie has created large undulating banks of planting around the house to meld it into the foreshore and minimise its impact on this area of outstanding natural beauty.


Beachcombing finds complement her naturalistic seaside planting style, and flotsam and jetsam washed up with the tide, sits amongst hummocky drifts of wind and salt tolerant grasses and sea pinks, designed to evoke the sand dunes at the estuary mouth.


A reduced colour palette, soft shapes and minimal hard landscaping, allows the eye to travel easily out over the water to the rolling countryside on the far bank, with windows cut in the cloud-pruned shelter belt offering tantalising framed views of the estuary.


A short circular walk takes you through an area of jungly planting, a wildflower meadow and copse and back along the riverbank to a Mediterranean courtyard with plenty of places to stop and take in the views and salty air.


Cream teas & plant sale on NGS openings.


Location: The Lookout, Sowden Lane, Lympstone, Nr Exmouth, Devon EX8 5HE


A376 towards Exmouth, through Exton then 1st right after Marine Camp signed Lower Lympstone. Right at T junction into The Strand, past Londis shop, village car park next left - 8 min walk (no onsite/nearby on-road parking on NGS days, but parking in adj field if dry) Map on NGS website.


Open: Friday 18th June 2-5pm, Sun 20th June 2-6pm for NGS. Private tours by app, proceeds to local charities.


Admission £3, children free but must be accompanied. Some sloping and gravel paths. Limited wheelchair access. Sorry no dogs.


Telephone: 01395 264263 Email: wmichelmore@btinternet.com


Durcombe Water – a garden open for the late May Bank Holiday


Durcombe Water is a hidden garden full of surprises and spectacular views nestling in a small valley but high up on Exmoor, more than1000 feet above sea level, not far from Lynton on the North Devon coast.


Catch the NGS opening if you can: it’s open on Sunday 30th and Bank Holiday Monday 31st May, between 11am and 5pm. It is also open to visitors by appointment through the summer.


Created in the past eight years from scratch by David Sydenham and his wife Pam, there are terraces, waterfalls, pond and stream, and masses of colour at this time of year with flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals.


The country lane which takes you to Durcombe Water gives wonderful views across a rarely visited part of Exmoor. The


Sitting on the seat at the top the 180 degree view can be seen with panoramic views across Exmoor


house and its two and a half acre garden in the hamlet of Furzehill is near the source of the West Lyn river.


Once in the garden, standing on the south facing terrace, visitors can look down upon the first part of the garden to be created, to the stream at the bottom which feeds into the Lyn.


The terraces are a colourful blend of azaleas and rhododendrons, annuals and perennials. At the far end is a large pond with another stream which tumbles down over rocks through a series of waterfalls falling 40 feet through eight tired ponds.


After walking along the sides of the waterfalls, there is the fruit and vegetable garden, and beyond that a walk uphill through an avenue of poplar trees interspersed with rhododendrons.


Sitting on the seat at the top the 180 degree view can be seen with panoramic views across Exmoor, with all of its colours and the silence only broken by the sounds of nature.


On the way down, there are some unusual trees, and then the pergola walk along to the bridge that crosses the stream. This leads to two large circular gardens sheltered by fir trees and planted in a cottage garden style.


The Oriental – Keyhole and Art Gallery garden is a newer part of the garden with a distinctive design. The art work is made up of plants grouped for their colour effect on trellis going out like spokes of a wheel. It has to be seen to be appreciated.


Part of the garden was wasteland, but it has certainly been tamed by the Sydenhams, and David, who is nearly 70 now, does not seem to be running out of ideas for developing the garden.


Cream teas, cakes and Pam’s home made scones can be enjoyed on the terrace from which the wonderful views can still be seen.


Location: Durcombe Water, Furzehill, Barbrook, Lynton EX35 6LN. Three miles south of Lynton. From Barnstaple take the A39 towards Lynton. At Barbrook go past the Total garage but do not take the turn to Lynton, instead take the next right turn about 100 yards further on. Follow the single track road for two miles and find the gates of Durcombe Water on the left.


Open: Sunday 30th May and Bank Holiday Monday 31st May, 11am – 5pm. Also by appointment through the summer.


Admission: £3, children free Telephone: 01598 753658


Country Gardener 17


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