Garden Description

Italian Gardens

At Cherkley Court, yew builds the main framework of the garden with box completing the parterres.The colour palette is mainly of white, cream and soft blues against the dark evergreens. Height and structure are given with box balls planted in elegant Italianate urns while pyramidal Italian cypresses stand in Versailles planters.

The formal pond (filled with colourful fish) is situated in the sunken part of the Italian garden.

Main Terrace and Lower Walk

These offer the visitor stunning views towards Ranmore Common & Norbury Park.

From the top terrace you walk down the steps onto the formal panel lawns with the garden pavilions at either end. The pavilions are framed by Magnolia ‘Merrill’ and Italian Cypress in Versailles planters. At their centre is the canal filled with fish & water lilies.

Behind the canal is the grotto - an intricate design from Belinda Eade made out of shells. The south-facing bank of the lower walk demonstrates simplicity on a grand scale with Nepeta (catnip/catmint) and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ - the Allium heads resembling purple clouds floating above the Nepeta in late spring.

Flower Garden

On the site of a former palmhouse this garden is designed to be at its best from high summer. With its south-facing aspect (full sun), the hot colours: reds, oranges, yellows, display best in the bright sunlight.

East Woodland Garden

This garden is on a south-facing slope which gets baked in summer, with shallow top soil overlaying chalk and flint parent rock.

There is an established collection of woody plants & trees – the Cercis (Redbud/Judas tree), giant evergreen Holm oaks, magnificent yew trees, arbutus (the strawberry tree), Portugal laurels, and Italian cypress. This part of the garden also features a wildflower meadow as well as Mediterranean-type planting.

West Woodland Garden

This is a young woodland where a grove of Walnut trees is planted. Under the canopy of this woodland are planted primroses and bluebells. A cool place to rest and admire the views down the Mole Valley.

Potager and Vegetable Garden

New for 2008 is the vegetable garden, focussing on mediterranean vegetables as it is sited in the most sheltered part of the garden. The potager makes up one third of this area, and was planted with herbs last Autumn. The central feature is a beautiful olive tree.