Planting the Wildlife Garden
We believe that garden planting compositions, using old-fashioned cottage plants, herbs and wildflowers, can transcend the heights of beauty just as well as those which rely on exotic imports. We chose single, rather than double flowers, because they are much more accessible to insects seeking nectar and pollen. We grow a great range of plants with fruit and berries and nutritious seeds to support the diet of our birds and mammals
Plants
These are some of our favourite and most sort after plants - by visitors and wildlife alike! Most are available for sale at the garden nursery; see Sales. We regret we have no mail order service.
Angelica sylvestris purpureum
Unfailingly admired for its deep purple foliage and stems, fascinating buds, dusky-pink flowers and fine seed-heads.
Barley Grass
An eye catching grass with flowers that shimmer and dance in the breeze and foliage which provides insect habitat.
Buddleia 'Clive Farrell'
This variety collected from Beijing by Clive Farrell, flowers later than other buddleias and perfectly timed for the late summer butterflies.
Cloud Grass
The most romantic haze of silver then pink flowers and buff.

no pic

 

 

.
Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Another beautiful native; a tall plant with shell-pink umbelliferous flowers in June.
Corky-fruited water dropwort
A British native to grace the meadow or the border.
Eryngium 'Bewitched'
Steely, silvery-purple flowers and stems. Bumble bees love it.
Eupatorium purpureum
Tall sturdy and stately with enduring seed heads, it caters most handsomely for butterflies bees and birds
Echinacea purpurea
The striking flowers make a perfect setting for the wide range of butterflies they attact in late summer
Fringed Water-lily
Perfect for small ponds; a native yellow 'water lily' with small leaves and flowers.

no pic

 

.
Geranium 'Blue Shimmer'
A selected Sticky Wicket Geranium pratense seedling; fluttery-looking, voluptuous and beguiling.
Knapweed
We select unusual forms of this versatile, obliging and attractive native wildflower.
Lupinus 'Witchet'
A deep sultry, purple variety which happily occurred here as a seedling
Origanums
We select exceptional seedlings of this outstanding herb and nectar plant
Poppies
We have white, pink, mauve and deep plum coloured forms of Papaver somniferum and the bees love them all - as much as we do.

no pic

 

.

 Ragged Robin
One of our prettiest native wildflowers which is becoming rarer in the wild.
Scabious
We grow both ornamental and wild forms of scabious which supply our bees and butterflies with ample nectar.
Sedums
We grow and propagate with bees and butterflies in mind.
Verbena Bonariensis
No butterfly garden is complete without this elegant plant
Wild Carrot
A most beautiful, late flowering wild flower which soldier beetles and other insects visit.
Yellow Rattle
The meadow-maker's friend and food for bumble bees too.