Grotto and Graveyard: Oxfordshire — Neil Ross Gardens

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Grotto and Graveyard: Oxfordshire

An amazing and fun three years playing in the grounds of an historic property in Oxfordshire. While sensitively restoring the house, chapel , lake and walled garden, the energetic new owners wanted a mix of traditional and contemporary planting, often on a large scale, to complete this ambitious redevelopment. There was a treasure-trove of statues, columns and curios stashed in barns which needed sensitive placement within the landscape. Working in partnership with Chelsea multiple gold-medal winners Julian Dowle Parnership, I developed the planting in a new Japanese Garden and also designed and implemented new planting on driveways - lake edges around a restored chapel, tennis court and most excitingly in an extensive new greenhouse within the walled garden.

BEFORE: Hard-landscaping by Julian Dowle Partnership for a Japanese inspired garden beside the new indoor swimming pool. — BEFORE: Hard-landscaping by Julian Dowle Partnership for a Japanese inspired garden beside the new indoor swimming pool.

AFTER: A bit of my time in New Zealand creeps into the eventual design but most of the plants are authentically Japanese. — AFTER: A bit of my time in New Zealand creeps into the eventual design but most of the plants are authentically Japanese.

BEFORE: After encircling the restored chapel in bespoke forged fencing it was time to add some magic to the graveyard within. — BEFORE: After encircling the restored chapel in bespoke forged fencing it was time to add some magic to the graveyard within.

AFTER: An unselfconscious mix of reliable prairie plants to create a dream-like meadow in contrast to the more formal parts of the gardens. — AFTER: An unselfconscious mix of reliable prairie plants to create a dream-like meadow in contrast to the more formal parts of the gardens.

BEFORE: I cut plywood proformas to check if we could upcycle stone masonry found in the barns to make gate piers of the correct proportion. — BEFORE: I cut plywood proformas to check if we could upcycle stone masonry found in the barns to make gate piers of the correct proportion.

AFTER: This bespoke gate design was inspired by the window pattern beyond. — AFTER: This bespoke gate design was inspired by the window pattern beyond.

BEFORE: Entering the new greenhouses, the back wall was in serious need of the ‘wow’ factor. I was inspired by the grottos of my childhood growing up near Hawkstone Park in Shropshire and by the fantastical artificial rock formations dreamed up by the Pulham family in the Victorian era at places such as The Swiss Garden: Bedfordshire and Waddesdon Manor : Bucks — BEFORE: Entering the new greenhouses, the back wall was in serious need of the ‘wow’ factor. I was inspired by the grottos of my childhood growing up near Hawkstone Park in Shropshire and by the fantastical artificial rock formations dreamed up by the Pulham family in the Victorian era at places such as The Swiss Garden: Bedfordshire and Waddesdon Manor : Bucks

AFTER: By simplifying the path system I was able to develop a jungly setting using many of the plants that I had grown outdoors in New Zealand such as Taros, banana and bromeliads. — AFTER: By simplifying the path system I was able to develop a jungly setting using many of the plants that I had grown outdoors in New Zealand such as Taros, banana and bromeliads.

BEFORE: From a sketch idea, the talented Alan Bishop www.alanbishopthemeworks.co.uk and his team twisted steel and chicken-wire plus spray-on concrete and fashioned an artificial rock-face complete with hidden irrigation and plantpots to allow for planting pockets. — BEFORE: From a sketch idea, the talented Alan Bishop www.alanbishopthemeworks.co.uk and his team twisted steel and chicken-wire plus spray-on concrete and fashioned an artificial rock-face complete with hidden irrigation and plantpots to allow for planting pockets.

AFTER: Now fully planted the rock wall is complete with a central alcove of water dripping from hand-made stalactites into a small pool. — AFTER: Now fully planted the rock wall is complete with a central alcove of water dripping from hand-made stalactites into a small pool.

This giant volcanic ‘egg’ is a geological curiosity. I found it a home nestled at the foot of a fine redwood tree.

Friendly arms of planting encircle the new feature to create a sense of place; simple planting of sedum, laurels, geranium and grasses.

Before: The old dairy became changing rooms for a new tennis court and sun terrace. I asked for this path to be added to house an antique font. — Before: The old dairy became changing rooms for a new tennis court and sun terrace. I asked for this path to be added to house an antique font.

After: Brooding contemporary planting with topiary, Artemesia ‘Valerie Finnis’ and Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’ — After: Brooding contemporary planting with topiary, Artemesia ‘Valerie Finnis’ and Ligularia ‘Britt Marie Crawford’

Before: Stables area needed simple treatment under proposed limes. — Before: Stables area needed simple treatment under proposed limes.

After: Stunning Rosa ‘Flowercarpet White’ and nepeta make for long flowering all summer and easy maintenance. Delicatr species narcissus will carpet these beds in Spring — After: Stunning Rosa ‘Flowercarpet White’ and nepeta make for long flowering all summer and easy maintenance. Delicatr species narcissus will carpet these beds in Spring