Al Ru is a big, boldly planted and beautiful garden of richly planted garden rooms

Before the stylish farmhouse and the garden come into view, the driveway passes a rusty biplane sculpture mounted on a tall pole in the adjoining paddock, a telling sign that this property is full of surprises!

Ruth Irving, drawing inspiration from her visits to gardens worldwide, has skilfully applied her extensive plant knowledge to convert ten acres of Al Ru farmland into a vibrant and creatively designed garden filled with flowers throughout the seasons.

A series of richly planted garden rooms each has its own distinctive style and palette of plants. There are colour-themed perennial borders, a wide wisteria and rose covered arch leading into the ‘wedding garden’ where white roses climb up and over black lattice work, a formal box-edged garden and a delightfully informal wild area where perfumed freesias and tiny white lawn daisies have been left to naturalise.  Meandering paths wind through the woodland garden which in spring feels joyful with vivid pink silene, lime green euphorbia, bluebells, honesty, columbines, campanula, hollyhocks and head-high Queen Anne’s lace.  The blossom of six different varieties of crab apple, Dutch iris in shades of white, yellow and blue and thousands of ranunculi will create spectacular drifts of colour.

Other features include an exuberantly planted meadow garden, a silver border, lily pond, garden statues and urns, swimming pool and outbuildings including a charming conservatory, the barn and a garden pavilion. The expansive lawns are sheltered by big old trees and dotted with several roaming Guineafowl and a very large and friendly dog!

Open on Sunday September 15 ONLY