Spring vistas

Above: Bluebells at Boldshaves

Above: Boldshaves, near Woodchurch

Above: Spring vistas at Boldshaves

Spring sees a succession of floral and foliage delights. Young flowers and newly unfurled leaves usher a series of changes in the garden as days of warm, growing weather stretch out ahead of us. It is a season of sweet fragrances, colour and movement with its relentless eruption of renewal.

Deidre and Peregrine Massey’s developing garden, Boldshaves, near Woodchurch embraces the season. Highlights include carpets of bluebells and anemones in a mature woodland followed by a progression of bulbs, shrubs and herbaceous plants emerging into their prime. Formality and informality is combined to produce broad vistas to the surrounding countryside and more intimate vignettes in divided spaces.

Position, position, position
The partly terraced, seven-acre garden stretches down a south-facing slope, looking towards Tenterden across vast green paddocks dotted with grazing sheep. Built in 1902, the Edwardian house at Boldshaves sits appropriately at the top of the incline, in a prime position affording stunning views, as was the custom of the time.

“The house is unremarkable, except for the fact that its architect was William Marchant, one of the first trio of apprentices taken on by Sir Edwin Lutyens,” explains Deidre. “Boldshaves was one of his earliest independent pieces of work and unsurprisingly shows clear Lutyens influences, especially in the roofscape.”

The predominant visual is a haze of gentle mauves and blues, highlighted with fresh, zingy greens

The property’s name came about as the house is built on what was previously grazing land, cleared for sheep and ‘shaves’, windbreaks between pastureland, by a Yorkshireman, Major Bold, in the 18th century.

Now both a family home and a working garden, Deidre and Peregrine, with the help of their gardeners, have been redeveloping and replanting the landscape since the 1990’s. Any original planting schemes had been mostly abandoned during the 15 preceding years, however the garden is blessed with areas of mature trees and a magical woodland resplendent with its annual blue haze.

The stands of ancient oak, birch and hornbeam also give protection from the prevailing south-westerly and winter northerly winds, as well as providing nesting cover for resident birds such as nightingales, woodcocks and owls.

Garden rooms
A tour of the garden will take you through a series of loosely divided rooms as well as the woodland walk. There is a broad palette of plants to enjoy in the different areas, with the walls and hedges creating a variety of sheltered micro-climates. Mixes of native and exotic plants blend attractively in the Wealden clay soil.

Axes lend formality with a pergola walk, lines of hedges and defined paths. Shrub roses and summer-flowering perennials fringe the tennis court and deep borders edge expanses of lawns. In one area, a gravel garden is being created in an Italianate style and in another there is camellia dell.

A walled garden allows many semi-hardy plants to thrive, including a range of southern hemisphere choices. “I think the walled garden works particularly well, as it was a complete ruin. There are now lots of roses added to Wedding Day, which was still there,” says Deidre.

Highlights include carpets of bluebells and anemones in a mature woodland

At the site of an old orchard, continuity remains, with espaliered pears and underplantings of soft pinks, blues, whites and silver. Colour combinations have been planned throughout the garden, resulting in harmonious blends. In spring, the predominant visual is a haze of gentle mauves and blues, highlighted with fresh zingy greens and splashes of richer tones.

The element of water adds a further dimension, with the addition of a circular pond framed by stone seats within a yew hedge. Aromatic herbs are dotted among the paving around the pond and there is also both a kitchen garden and a newly planted herb garden close to the house.

Completing this country garden is a bed given over to flame-coloured plants and a wildflower meadow. Seats placed strategically throughout the garden give plenty of opportunities to take time to enjoy the views.

Opening times

Boldshaves, Woodchurch

Sun 20 April, 25 May, 29 June (2pm to 6pm)

Admission £4, children free

Open with The National Gardens Scheme

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