Waterperry Gardens, in Oxfordshire, is a veritable cornucopia of all things horticultural, edible, cultural and shoppable. The gardens themselves are extensive and would need a visit of several hours to do them justice.

The Gardens rose to fame in the middle of the 20th century as a residential horticultural college for women run by Beatrix Havergal (allegedly the inspiration for Roald Dahl’s Miss Trunchbull). The college closed on the death of her life and business partner, Avice Sanders, in 1971.

Beatrix and Avice originally founded the school in 1921 at Pusey House in Oxfordshire and moved to Waterperry Gardens in 1932. At the time it was rented from Magdelen College.until they bought it in 1948. All students paid their own fees until 1958, when scholarships were granted by some county councils. The diploma was accepted as one equal to those issued by Kew and Edinburgh. Beatrix was awarded an MBE in 1960 and the Royal Horticultural Society Veitch Memorial Medal and Victoria Medal of Honour in 1965. For many years Beatrix won gold medals for her strawberries at Chelsea Flower Show.

The property was bought by The School of Philosophy and Economic Science in 1971. Beatrice and Avice’s garden has been maintained as they knew it and it has also been extended in scope and content, although it is not clear what is original and what is new.

The gardens are large and quite varied. You are guided into the gardens along the Truth Trail, over a bridge and through light woodland. Under another bridge the long herbaceous border suddenly appears. It is banked up on oneside alllowing plants to tower over the pedestrian.

The Formal Garden was created by Bernard Saunders and Mary Spiller, a former student and then tutor at Waterperry Horticultural School. The sculpture, Girl holding the Lamp of Wisdom, is by Nathan David. It is a Silent Space, part of a network of gardens of where people can be silent and switch off from the outside world and to take time to reflect.

I particularly enjoyed the Colour Borders - these colour co-ordinated mixed borders make use of perennials, shrubs, bedding and bulbs to give all year round colour and interest.

The Modern Borders look good at the end of summer with grasses and later flowering perennials. The wavy edges are reminiscent of the 1970s.

The Georgian Walled Garden has been recently made over as a cutting garden. The deep borders of Dahlias are pretty spectacular as are the beds of colourful annuals. I managed to miss The Mary Rose Garden, Yew Henge and orchards - more to see on another visit, perhaps in the spring.

Beyond the gardens there is a nursery, shops of varying descriptions, art gallery, museum, cafe and outdoor theatre. I didn’t have time to try the cafe. It would be worth taking a picnic as its a long walk to the cafe if you want refreshments part way through your visit.

Waterperry Gardens

Waterperry Gardens

Winter flowering plants