Reckless Gardener’s Sandy Felton visits Cheshire’s Arley Hall to discover a Quintessentially English Garden.


I discovered Arley Hall quite by chance over thirty years ago and have had the pleasure of visiting the garden many times since.

I think my attraction to the garden is the fact that it is maintained in the style of a pre-war country house but there is also something else that lingers at Arley Hall and tempts the visitor to return.

Read more: Arley Hall, a quintessentially English garden.

My first visit to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) garden at Wisley rather reminded me of the old Chinese proverb – ‘one who plants a garden, plants happiness.”

To say I was like a child in a sweet shop would be an understatement; I was completely enthralled with Wisley finding it one of the most enjoyable visits I have ever made to a garden.

RHS Garden Wisley is one of the great gardens of the world. More than just a collection of plants it is a wonderful source of inspiration, education and enjoyment.

Read more: RHS Garden Wisley – an intimate and inspirational garden