A three acre mature country garden open to the surrounding farmland and landscape, including a collection of fine ornamental trees created by owners James and Lucy Nelson since 1997.
Forest Lodge didn’t really have a garden when James and Lucy Nelson bought the house in 1996. They set about deer fencing and digging a lake and then tackled the difficult and expensive business of creating terraces on the south west facing slope which looks towards the Blackmore Vale.
The feature that sets the garden apart is the amphitheatre effect of the concentric circles of terracing towards the South West. The other exceptional feature is the acid soil - a similar pH to Stourhead Gardens down the road. This means they can grow so many more rare and lovely plants all around the year, such as camellias, hammamelis, rhododendrons, cornus and davidia.
Lucy was helped by Michelle Prior and they based their plans loosely on some of the Arts & Crafts gardens created by Lutyens and Jekyll, especially Hestercombe in Somerset, which is such an inspiration. Gradually the planting plans emerged and the more formal borders around the house were planted up with many David Austin roses and underplanted with bulbs, salvias, lilies and lavender.
If you wish to stay locally and explore other local gardens, Lucy and James have a cottage at the end of the drive which is available for short stays.
www.forestlodgecottage.co.uk
GARDENERS WORLD WINTER SPECIAL
Forest Lodge Garden was celebrated in the Winter Specials 2024/2025 Episode 1.
Carol Klein visits the garden and discusses the best shrubs that offer both flowers and scent in the colder months.
The Garden is also featured in Abigail Willis’ fantastic book
‘The Secret Gardens of Somerset’
"A pitch perfect Somerset garden, with echoes of Hestercombe and tranquil glades of flowering trees and shrubs to wander among.
A tonic for the soul! "
Abigail Willis