Let the National Trust inspire your summer


We all need a day out in the fresh air – and away from the garden. There are some special places that lift the spirits and offer the chance to walk, look and learn. You’ll find all this in a visit to a National Trust property.


Overbeck’s Knightshayes


There’s an amazing choice of places owned by the National Trust all over the country, but the West Country is particularly rich in its various properties. From the Arcadian landscape of Prior Park in Bath to the sub-tropical plantings at Overbeck’s, near Salcombe, from the ancient atmospheric Avebury rings to the great restoration under way at Victorian Tyntesfield in north Somerset, there’s something for everyone.


Newark Park


If you want to learn more about Roman history, head for Chedworth Roman Villa, near Cheltenham. Discovered by a gamekeeper in 1864, the property has been in the hands of the NT since 1924, and gives a fascinating insight into the way of life in 4th century Roman Britain. Educational for everyone, it is particularly interesting for children, with lots of exciting activities throughout the season.


Buscot Park


Apart from Prior Park, just a walk or bus ride from the centre of Bath, there are other beautiful, spacious parks in the region. Dyrham Park is not far away, off the M4, and set in a beautiful


Gloucestershire valley. The rolling parkland of 272 acres surrounds a grand baroque house designed for William III’s secretary of war, reflecting the Dutch influence of the period but with later additions.


Charlecote Park in Warwickshire is famous for its legend that as a youth Shakespeare poached a deer from the park. Home to the Lucy family since the 15th century, it reflects the changes brought about in their houses by the landed gentry, with Victorian remodelling. Apart from the spacious park to explore, where deer and Jacob sheep graze, there are beautiful formal gardens near the house.


Killerton, a few miles from Exeter, has links to the great Victorian plant hunters in its park and grounds, designed by John Veitch for the Acland family before he founded the dynasty of nurserymen who sent out men like the Lobb brothers to far distant parts of the world to bring back rare specimen trees and plants.


Every year there is a costume exhibition in the 18th century


house at Killerton, displaying its huge collection. This year the theme is ‘Elegance’, giving visitors an opportunity to see the glamorous fashions of two centuries.


A few miles away at Knightshayes, the Victorian gothic pile built for the family who founded the lace factory at Tiverton, is in complete contrast. An amazingly decorated bedroom now seen in its glory forms part of William Burges’s design rejected by the Heathcoat Amory family for a more restrained style.


Outside, the famous ‘Garden in the Wood’ planted by Sir John and Lady Heathcoat Amory in the 1950s, is delightful at all times of the year, with spring blossom in the magnolias, rhododendrons and masses of woodland flowers, summer leafiness and autumn tints.


Overbeck’s, which was gifted to the National Trust by Otto Overbeck in 1937, is an Edwardian house high up at Sharpitor in Devon. Inside you’ll discover his collections and his invention called the Rejuvenator, while outside there is the lovely terraced sub-tropical garden, with palms and banana trees, and marvellous views of the countryside and estuary around Salcombe.


Another Edwardian garden, but a very different design, awaits you at Hidcote Manor near Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds. Major Lawrence Johnston was a wealthy sponsor of plant hunting expeditions who adorned his Arts and Crafts style garden with rare plants in its garden rooms or enclosures.


Recent research has resulted in a great restoration programme to return the detail of the garden to Johnston’s original plans. There is all year round colour, with one of the most photographed borders in the country, the glorious Red Border, at its height in high summer.


Buscot Park at Faringdon in Oxfordshire is still a family home, the seat of Lord Faringdon. The Faringdon Collection of art, with several Pre-Raphaelite works contrasting with contemporary and traditional art, is constantly changing. The beautiful Saloon houses the famous series of paintings by Edward Burne-Jones, known as the Legend of the Briar Rose, inspired by the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.


The grounds contain one of England’s finest water gardens, designed by Harold Peto in 1904, as well as formal gardens and the scented Four Seasons Walled Garden, guarded by a new acquisition – seventeen life-size Chinese terracotta warriors.


Wander through a wild, romantic garden at Newark Park at Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, in Gloucestershire, where you can picnic in the grounds, play croquet and find out who has lived in this house during the past 450 years. For walkers, the Cotswold Way passes Newark Park, and is perfect for a peaceful walk.


Wherever you go, a National Trust destination will offer a great day out – for all ages.


Country Gardener 31


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