Bates Green Garden

Head Gardener's Comment

A naturalistic and tranquil garden with a beautifully established wildflower meadow, and neighbouring ancient woodland, close to the South Downs. Bates Green Garden was designed and planted from 1968 by the late Carolyn McCutchan, a skilled plantswoman. The Garden is unique in its selection of many unusual plants, including mature trees and shrubs. It continues to evolve, featuring colourful and imaginative plantings. The distinct areas of the garden offer a sensory experience with bulbs, grasses, herbaceous and woody plants providing colour, scent and texture in all seasons.

• The garden surrounds the farmhouse, which was originally a small gamekeeper’s cottage.
• The soil is neutral pH heavy Weald clay much improved with homemade compost.
• The garden has very distinct areas, which enable plants from different ecological conditions to thrive including a small pond to encourage wildlife.
• In the Woodland Garden spring bulbs abound followed by herbaceous woodlanders and hardy cyclamen.
• In the more formal shaped Middle Garden colour is the main theme, starting with tulips and alliums, and then herbaceous and woody plants take over until the autumn, when the garden displays exciting colour.
• Other beds flow with a good mixture of grasses and all manner of exciting plants to give colour, texture and movement.
• Bates Green is in a tranquil setting, surrounded by pastures grazed by sheep with views to the South Downs.
• The 6-acre wild flower meadow adjoining the garden contains a wealth of flora and fauna. It is traditionally managed with mown paths round it.
• The Winter Garden is positioned so that the low rays of sun make the most of the coloured leaves and stems of the many cornus, with bulbs and plants grown for interest from autumn through to spring.
• The garden is managed with wildlife in mind and is naturalistic with a relaxed feel
• The Millennium Avenue leading up to an ancient 24 acre ancient oak wood is a mass of early wild daffodils in February/March
• Beatons Wood opens every April/May for the Arlington Bluebell Walk www.bluebellwalk.co.uk