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A plantsman's paradise
Just three miles east of the beautiful cathedral city of Worcester and surrounded by glorious countryside, lies one of Britain’s best kept secrets.
Virtually hidden from the road, and largely unaltered in the last century, this lovely 30 acre Victorian paradise, belonging to Mr. and Mrs. R.J.G. Berkeley, has been lovingly created by successive generations of the Berkeley family, and boasts an enviable collection of plant treasures from every corner of the globe.
Clumps of wild primrose push up randomly through sapphire carpets of crocus and swathes of sunny daffodils in Spring, with billowing borders of blowsy perennials and tender exotics in Summer, and a palette of burnt orange, ochre and fiery red in Autumn.
A garden of surprises
From the first tantalizing glimpse of the garden across the magnolia-fringed Horse Pool, back round to the entrance through the Melon Yard with its olives and delicious pineapple-scented flowers, Spetchley is full of surprises
It’s a garden of contrasts, where formal clipped hedges, rose beds and sweeping lawns meet tumbling herbaceous borders and walls festooned with rampant climbers, and where winding paths lead you from the quintessentially English to the unmistakably Mediterranean.
There are unexpected vistas framed by borrowed landscape, far-reaching views of the Malvern Hills, and a surprise around every corner, be it the rare and quirky Root House, the delightful statues of Adam and Eve watching over the Bath Stone alcove or the mighty Lucombe oak tree on the Cork Lawn.
.... and a place to unwind
Charming and unspoilt and naturally beautiful, Spetchley is a welcoming oasis of calm and the perfect place to relax and unwind away from the distractions of modern-day life. It’s a garden for quiet contemplation or a leisurely stroll, for a family picnic or an afternoon tea with friends.
There are no timed visits at Spetchley, and no set route - just the freedom to meander at leisure and enjoy the view.
You won’t find a purpose-built play area for children here - just ducks and geese, squirrels and peacocks, a knobbly knee tree, some fantastic hiding places, and acres of space. Look again and woodland becomes enchanted forest, footbridge becomes castle drawbridge, and paths become jungle trails. With a little imagination, who knows what they might discover!
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