Hidcote pt. 2

I am continuing my last post with more photos of Hidcote, this time focusing on the outer perimeter of the garden. Like most gardens, these areas were less formal in design. Along the outer fences, you get serene views of the English countryside with nary a building in sight.

One such vista occurs at the top of a long avenue called the "Long Walk". This expanse of lawn surrounded by hornbeam hedges is a stark contrast to the previous garden rooms that are packed with plants. 

The angle of the hedges gives an optical illusion, making the avenue appear longer than it is. Once you reach the summit, an open gate leads to a view of the countryside -

One can choose to walk back down the way they came up or take a route back through "The Wilderness" which runs alongside The Long Walk. The Wilderness is a woodland area with winding grass pathways that meander through mature trees and densely planted shrubbery.

If you walk to the opposite side of the Long Walk, you will stroll through three distinct areas.

The Stream Garden -

The Bulb Slope -

The Rock Bank -

Other areas seen in my wanderings at Hidcote - The Beech Alley -

An impressive compost area -

And finally, this feature, which continues to elude me.  It must be the Garden Yard, although I remember it being in the midst of the garden rooms which are in a different location. So I'm not exactly sure what this area was called -

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of Hidcote. It was certainly a memorable event for me and I'd love to explore it again later in the summer months.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy