A road trip with my daughter found us at Denmans, a garden designed by John Brookes. A well known, influential garden designer, he has also written many books that form an important part of my reference library. Even the old dated 1970s ones often get pulled out and flicked through, releasing that wonderful, unique old book aroma into the office!

Denmans is only 4 acres in size, tiny compared the grandeur of many National Trust Gardens, but significantly larger than many of our own. The difference between NT gardens and Denmans, is that the latter is formed of smaller spaces, full to the brim with subtle detail and ideas more easily transferred into your own back yard. It was the small details that caught my attention as a designer: the way pavers were cut, the well thought out position of a terracotta pot, the siting of a stone urn within a low box hedge, the small lawn area that rendered you cleverly out of view from the rest of the garden, exaggerated by a screen of Miscanthus sinensis – all of which were photographed and squirreled away into my Design Ideas file!

Although our time spent there was beneath low level grey cloud, that drenched us every five minutes in heavy downpours, you couldn’t help but be lifted by the overall feel of the garden: with sinuous curves, paths leading you to who knows where, falling upon a view of a beautiful tree or garden feature- it was wonderful. If it hadn’t been raiing we would have spent more time sitting one of the many benches dotted about inthe garden.

Sadly the rain made us shorten our stay, rendering it an odd time to eat at the award wining cafe, so we gave it a miss on this occassion. I would be interested to know of any of you have eaten there.

It is well worth a visit next time you are passing down the A27. You can find out more about it here, and remember to look out for discounted entry!