Gardens > England > Dorset > Minterne Garden

Minterne Garden

An eighteenth century Serpentine Style park with lakes and a stream, in a valley. A woodland Himalayan garden has been developed with a collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, inspired by the Gardenesque Style.

Photograph © Minterne Gardens

Photograph © Minterne Gardens

History

In 1768 Admiral Robert Digby, a younger son of the 7th Baron Digby of Sherborne Castle, bought Minterne from the executors of the will of General Charles Churchill. It is interesting to note that in his diary later that year, Robert wrote, "Visited my new estate, valley very bare, trees not thriving, house ill contrived and ill-situated!" Robert immediately set about landscaping the valley in the manner of Capability Brown, who was working at Sherborne Castle at the time. Although the hills are chalk, the garden is situated on a mound of green sand, which runs for a mile down the centre of the valley. This, with the humus and dappled shade provided by the large beech trees was the perfect setting for the rhododendrons and magnolias from the Wilson, Forrest, Rock and Kingdon Ward expeditions to the Himalayas.

Plants of note

The secluded gardens at Minterne, famed for its seasonal profusion of rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese cherries and magnolias are set in a peaceful wooded valley and have been described by Simon Jenkins as ' a corner of paradise.'
In late May and June many fine specimens of Davidia Involucrata (the Pocket Handkerchief Tree) are a particular feature.
Small lakes, streams and cascades offer a new vista at each turn round the 1-mile round horseshoe-shaped gardens, and in the summer the streams are enhanced by primulas, astilbes and water-lilies.
Over 200 Maples and Acers provide stunning autumn colouring.