The Old Rectory, Tasburgh Visit

A perfect late summer day, warm, with a solid blue sky, put the icing on the cake for this NGT visit to the Old Rectory at Tasburgh by kind invitation of John Mixer and Nigel Handley.

Set round the handsome late Georgian house, the garden, although made up of formal elements, has a relaxed and inviting feel and demands to be explored. Many large topiary yew pieces drew the attention, with high hedged paths lending discovery. Across the lawn in front of the house, the round Saxon tower of St.Mary’s church acted as a fine focal point.

Unexpectedly, to the side, the land dramatically drops to reveal a lower garden. This is defined by high yew hedging and its main feature, a double row of large tapering yew pyramids. A large alcove sits in the bank supporting the upper garden, displaying garden trophies. Behind the house the discovery continues with a nine squares of box, planted in their centres, forming a well-judged parterre.

Six weeks earlier two thirds of a 200-year old cedar of Lebanon which dominated the main lawn at the front, broke off in a gale.  Disaster enough to cause a cancellation, but this had been cleared and the sun and light now floods in, a loss often has some gain. Needless to say, the NGT tea and cakes as always added to the pleasure of the afternoon.