Deep in the ancient hunting ground of the New Forest there still remain a few traditional English cottages, only a handful retain the classic cottage garden style as well as Hills Corner.
Walls of mud and wheat straw for a roof is a formula tried and tested for centuries, such a durable dwelling housed the peasant class of old England and their gardens have become legend. 'Cottage Garden' is a generic term, for no two were ever alike, they reflected the needs, passions and resources of the gardener. The common thread uniting them was poverty, and out of that came the mixing of production for the body and beauty for the soul.
Mandie's cottage is compact just two up and two down with a kitchen lean-too. In the old days the folks didn't spend much time indoors, they were out working or tending their garden, so, some where to lay their head and a place to eat was all they desired.
Mandie has carried on the tradition of blending edible and ornamental, box (Buxus sempervirens) line the garden path and the lawn is host to a massive apple tree with a shadily placed hammock. Trained apple trees border the veg plot in the front of the cottage where it can be seen in all it's glory, not hidden away as would be the case in one of the grand houses.
In a break with tradition Mandy has gone for raised beds for her veggies. The beds are made strong and stout like an English yeoman, they'll last a hundred years or more. Like so much in the garden her raised beds are made from re-cycled materials. Railway sleepers held together with massive old steel bolts and capped with lead from some dilapidated roof.
The cottage is tiny and stuffed with memorabilia, there's no room to swing a cat that's for sure. Mandie has made more living space by adding a garden room in her own eclectic style. Supported by oak tree trunks complete with branches and bark this is a solid structure that like the raised beds is built to last. Wisteria rambles across the roof and gives extra dappled shade. Inside the garden room Mandie has amassed a collection of lovely things, some heirlooms other recent 'objets trouves'. At first sight, things seem higgledy piggledy but look closely and see how lovingly everything has been arranged. What a gift for a
photographer this little retreat is.
Beyond the front garden Mandie has a paddock for her New Forest Ponies. Every where you look you are reminded of the tradition of this place, a shepherds hut here, a hay turner there even a venerable Landrover that gets Mandie to her places of work.
The boundary between garden and field is another treasure house of randon items from field and forest. Displayed along the fence are ropes, tools, antlers all with a patina of weathering and
wear. Friends know just the kind of things that Mandie treasures and her collection grows almost every day. Nothing gets refused, e ach item will have it's place in due course, there's no hurry, after all this garden has been here for three centuries.
Annual flowers have little place in this garden, they are too transient and add to the work load. Climbers and herbaceous perennials dominate, especially those that are trouble free. Roses abound as do Clematis.
It's not a big garden, but it has so many facets it takes a few hours to take it all in. If you get a chance to visit grasp the opportunity, you'll enjoy it.
Hills corner is a private garden that sometimes opens to the public in association with Godshill open garden event.
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