Two years on and the herb garden has settled into an exuberant and frothy matrix of culinary, medicinal and wildlife-friendly plants, all held together and shown to best effect by its strong uncompromising framework. A laborious task that the couple completed themselves, in the knowledge that any ongoing maintenance and lasting aesthetic would yield the rewards. Before planting, the design was reinforced with the installation of heavy-grade steel edging, denoting border from path. The irregular angled beds also help to make use of all the available space in a garden where right angles seldom exist. Where many would avoid planting to a tapering point, Petra believes that “it’s great for focussing the mind”. “We wanted to have as much growing space as possible, hence the large borders,” she says, “but realised we needed paths for general access and cultivation.” The solution is a series of tessellated triangular borders, framed with straight narrow paths. A practical attitude, helped by having a husband qualified in architecture, guided Petra’s design of the herb garden. It truly is a joy to behold the tapestry of flowers and foliage, emitting aromatic scent and oils gently quivering with the attention of foraging bees and insects.īut it is not all about the beauty. Yet a judicious hand in weeding is required to maintain a healthy balance. As in the rest of the garden, the self-seeding of plants such as angelicas, foxgloves and sweet cicely is encouraged. Taller species, such as Valeriana officinalis and Thalictrum ‘Elin’ add broken height to the mix, complementing the permanent structure that is created from the interesting cultivars of elder and old rose. These are informally mixed with ornamentals, including eryngiums and bearded irises, punctuated with the texture and form of stately cardoons, enthusiastic lovage and flowering onions. The result is a collection of beautiful billowing borders, filled to the brim with perennial herbs such as marjoram, sage and thyme. One that captures the essence of a traditional English cottage garden, while embracing contemporary planting that is both naturalistic and environmentally aware. The current custodians, Petra and Luke Hoyer Millar, prefer a more relaxed approach. Not so for the herb garden at Castle End. To this day many reference the past, arranged in neat and tidy rows within ordered beds.
They date back to the monastic gardens of the Middle Ages, where plants were collected and cultivated for culinary and medicinal use.
While offering a contemporary mix of medicinal, culinary and ornamental plants, the borders brim with old-style charm, matched equally by the 16th-century property. Perfectly nestled among clouds of umbels and soft foliage, the south side of the house overlooks the new herb garden.
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