Once a carrot field, Knoll Gardens have existed under different names and owners since the 1970’s. In 1994, Neil Lucas took over the creative care of the current gardens and winning ten Chelsea gold medals. With an ethos for matching ‘plant to the place’ the ornamental grasses combine with perennials, mature trees and shrubs in a naturalistic design, suiting sustainability and biodiversity. Hence there are damp, dry, shaded and gravel areas to suit the changeable climate.
A low maintenance and environmentally friendly Dragon Garden, planted in prairie style with a central pond, was best seen from an overlooking pergola. The Dragon refers to the pond’s sculpture of the Wessex Saint, Dustan, who struck the tempting devil in the form of a dragon, on the nose. Apposite to that, a devil’s-bit scabious is in the Gravel garden. A Bee Hotel, reminiscent of a hen house, has a roof of sempervivum or ‘hens & chicks’ and when taking a seat at Mill End, I was beside Red Bistort or ‘mountain fleece’.
Near to the mill pond Miscanthus Sinensis and Calamagrostis Brachytricha were offset by the dark of a tree shaded corner. Vivid colour throughout the garden was provided by a Chilean Lantern tree, Persian Ironwood Tree, Big Blue Lilyturf, and the acid green of a Choisya Ternata. A Winged Spindle and Chinese Silver grass was reminder that Christmas is coming.
Neil advised us to put maps away and wander the meandering paths so as to be immersed in the planting, some areas had a quality of enchantment to fire the imagination. Little indication of the garden’s true acreage was apparent; I am still wondering which route I followed!
Text & Photos by Sarah Herring