In FULL BLOOM

You wouldn't know it by looking at her garden, but Leila Shafarenko didn't set out to become a gardener

- NICOLA STOCKEN

Leila and Alex small, walled garden is a calm space where sunshine filters through Shafarenko's a canopy of foliage, highlighting an array of spring flowers. 'It was the garden that sold me the house,' says Leila. The house dates from the 16th century and the garden has seen many changes. 'The gardens of old houses have a special mood,' she notes.

When the couple first moved in, the garden was very traditional, with a framework of mature plants such as the magnolia, a purple-leaved ornamental cherry and wisteria. 'I changed it around, getting rid of the greenhouse and compost heap,' she explains. 'I have a conservatory [which is] where I sow seeds - I love seeing what's coming up each day.

Having relocated the gazebo to a raised area, the lower step leading down to the lawn was replaced with a round millstone, and box balls were established on each side. The circular shape of the step was then echoed in a patio built from granite setts, where there's now a table and chairs.