A Garden Designer's Private Space

Several years ago I stumbled upon some Topiary Images in a magazine. This in turn led me to probably my all time favourite garden book - "The Gardens of Arne Maynard". After reading the book I knew that one day I had to visit the garden itself. A couple of years ago my wish became reality and I finally got to stay at and visit Allt y Bela, the private garden of the renowned designer Arne Maynard.

It was quite an effort to get to Allt Y Bela as it's tucked away on the borders of Wales and accessed by a long and winding country lane which seems way off the beaten track. However, the effort was worth it. From the moment I drove my car in through the beautiful wood and iron gates I just knew this visit would be something very special and was sure to remain with me for a long time to come.

I'd already managed to devour several of Arne Maynard's garden books before my visit, and I'd read most of the blog posts on his website as well as every article that I could get my hands on but none of this prepared me for the beauty of this place. Seeing really is believing and so much better than a magazine or book.

The house sits perfectly within the surrounding landscape and seems nestled comfortably in to the rolling countryside around it. It is refreshingly quiet and peaceful with a strong feeling of time having stopped still. The house has been painted in an eye catching orange shade and so it stands proudly and magnificently at the centre of this scene. At the same time the property feels humble and serving the landscape itself. The house and the place are like one.

There is a small stream that flows through the valley by the house and stonework along it's banks links the steam to the property and envelops the house with a sweeping curve. The stream stone matches the buildings and this feature really punctuates and sets apart the house from the countryside beyond. It looks so simple but it is really quite sophisicated design that draws your eye and subconciously let's you see the house at peace with the landscape.

When viewed from another angle the curves of the stream are replicated in a series of stone walls set into the bank beyond, almost like an amphitheatre but very simplistic with planting spill out from the stone itself and a stunning curved wild flower meadow beyond. The curves get gradually smaller with height and so seem to disappear into the hillside.

There are several parts to the garden and most flow into one another although the Cottage Garden and Vegetable Garden are two seperate places. Topiary is dotted throughout and there are lots of pot displays as well as the amphitheatre and wild flower meadow. It is all curated perfectly and it is difficult to see clearly where the garden ends and the countryside begins.

Use has been made of local materials which adds to the sense of the place but, at the same, time there are some quite bold statements such as sculpture that is quite magestic in style but due to the simplicity of the surroundings does not feel out of place. To me this whole garden is strictly about structure but then how that can be made to fade into the background and carry the planting and landscape that surrounds it.

Care has been taken to ensure that any pots, seating and hard landscaping all "fit" with the surroundings and they have been allowed to weather beautifully, even gathering moss, so that they appear to have been around for many years.

Even the Head Gardener Bertie, who kindly showed me around the garden, looked part of this amazing space !

The Cottage Garden was a profusion of every type of Cottage Garden plant you could imagine. Some towered above me and it was difficult to take everything in. There were beautiful stone pathways criss crossing through this garden so that you could explore deeper and try to discover some new and beautiful plants. I could have stayed in part of the garden for quite a long time except there was even more to see.

The Vegetable and Cottage Garden were suprisingly small but that did not stop them both from packing so much in. In the Vegetable Garden everything was very ordered and most of the produce here is used for the house. Most plants were labelled and there was a feeling of having stepped back in time.

There was a stunning wooden greenhouse which again was not huge in size. At the time of my visit this was packed with several different varieties of tomato plant. Again natural materials had been used whenever possible including some stunning terracotta pots.

The Greenhouse is a walk from the house and so some more tender plants are kept nearby in a stunning cold frame. Attention to detail is key as the plants are staged so that those near to the back are raised up and easy to view and traditionnal terracotta pots are stored underneath. A beautifully clipped topiary sits adjacent to the frame whilst climbing plants cling to the wall besides it. In this garden even the most practical of structures look beautiful.

Everything looks so natural and you would never know that this garden is a relatively recent creation. Tightly clipped topiary of Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) and Buxus (box) sit comfortably in the garden with a backdrop of more wild and free flowing trees. Even the oak seating is set at an angle to reflect the garden design - a clever but subtle detail you may not even notice unless you look closely. Nevertheless small details like this are a nod to the sophisicated design which is almost hidden in this garden.

Sadly the visit came to an end all too quickly and I made sure that I had all my notes and pictures to hand before I asked Bernie, the gardener, any final questions. We were lucky that day as the weather was kind and when we had finished looking at the gardens we were able to enjoy a well appreciated cup of tea ! If you can make the trip to Allt y Bela you will not be disappointed and I really do recommend it.

Guineveres Garden | Garden Writer