Wild dreams

The mix of varied growing conditions in this ebulliently planted garden in East Sussex helped to forge an ecological vision and approach to gardening that benefits wildlife

- BENJAMIN POPE

Sloping northwest, this garden sits atop a gentle hill in the Sussex High Weald, with its boundaries merging into ancient oak woodland, working and derelict coppice, farmland and rolling fields. The owners bought the property in 2012 and fell in love with the garden, location and the opportunities it offered, loving the mix of habitats in the surrounding land, which makes it incredibly rich in wildlife, and is so important for biodiversity. This focus on ecology, along with a deep-rooted love of plants, is what drives the garden forward. It is an ethos and vision shared by head gardener Chris Brown, who has been working closely with the family to develop the garden since August 2020.

The fact it is on top of a hill presents another consideration. "The garden varies greatly in its growing conditions, explains Chris. "The soil is predominantly a rich clay loam that sits above a sloping sandstone bedrock, meaning that water can behave in an unpredictable way." Historically, this has been managed with land drains that now further complicate the hydrology of the site, creating some areas that are free-draining, while others retain moisture or sit saturated for much of the year. For Chris and the owners, this is not a problem but an opportunity to grow different plant species and create diverse habitats. Seasonal water-filled gullies that run through meadow grass contain moisture-loving species of darmera, iris and farfugium, while the hottest and driest areas around the terrace hold sun-loving, part-tender species such as Aloe striatula and Dasylirion serratifolium.