A village in Dorset, on the River Piddle, recorded in the Doomsday Book as having thirty hides.
It was ages since I had visited a garden in the National Gardens Scheme. There weren’t many gardens near me planned to open yesterday, so I went a little further than usual, into Dorset, to visit Ivy House Garden in Piddletrenthide, described as, ‘A steep and challenging ½ acre garden with fine views, set on south facing site in the beautiful Piddle valley. Wildlife friendly garden with mixed borders, ponds, propagating area, large vegetable garden, fruit cage, greenhouses and polytunnel, chickens and bees, plus a nearby allotment. Daffodils, tulips and hellebores in quantity for spring openings. Run on organic lines with plants to attract birds, bees and other insects. Come prepared for steep terrain and a warm welcome!’
The garden was opposite the village stores in the main street, where the abundance of parked cars told me that the attraction was popular. I took a walking pole from the car, given the warning about the steep terrain, not so much for going up, but for coming down again.
This was the view that greeted me as I entered. The picture does not convey just how steep the garden is.

The garden did not lend itself – with dramatic exceptions – to photos of vistas, being suited rather to cameo appearances. I made my way slowly and steadily upwards.










These ladies look as if they’re singing, don’t they?

These ladies, and one gentleman, were, in close harmony. I was amazed to see that they were using just words as aide memoire. I could never have managed without my part’s music. Their repertoire was extensive.



The gate led to a lane, which I did not take. But I did take advantage of a nearby seat for a while.


I took a different way down for some of the way.




The singers are still there – and this time one, at least, seems to be using a musical score.

About half way down (I had been using my walking pole because I had gone ‘off piste’ and there was no handrail there) I met Bridget and her husband, owners of the property for the last 36 years. Bridget told me that they had bought the place for its garden, which in 1986 had absolutely nothing in it. She also told me that Alfie, the dog, had ‘made’ a video for the NGS: https://ngs.org.uk/a-trot-around-ivy-house-garden/



This was my favourite spot. And one of the garden’s many seats was strategically placed there.



A coffee and cake down in the courtyard completed my visit to the lovely garden, but not to Piddletrenthide. I went on elsewhere, but, as I have to return in the coming days, my next post will be on that and the rest of this visit. (I often say at the end of my posts that I must return some day, but for reasons that will become apparent next time, I really have to!)
Blimey – my knees are wobbling in sympathy – ‘vertical’ might be a better description of the incline – but gorgeous photos of a lovely garden.
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Ooh yes. One if those inclined plane lifts would be interstimg there!
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What a delight, if hard work, to visit this garden. Your photographs document what there is to see so well. Thanks so much for the tour.
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In fact, I took it so steadily, with so much to see on the way, that little effort was involved.
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Beautiful pictures of an interesting garden . . and a choir as well. What a treat.
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As one who can be hypercritical of group singing, I was impressed!
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Splendid pictures of a wonderful garden. Well done for the climbing about. You must have been tempted to join in the singing. I enjoyed the ‘Alfie’ video.
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You know me well Mary. I was certainly thinking, ‘It would be nice to have the score’!
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Thank you for sharing, You’d like ‘Overbeck’s’, a Nat Trust garden near Salcombe, S Devon coast, which this equals.
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Thank you for the recommendation.
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I am particularly impressed by the chap’s overalls. I think they may be moleskin, in which case they would be particularly hardwearing. You didn’t happen to ask where he bought them, did you?
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I’m afraid I didn’t even ask what they were made of, let alone where he bought them!
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Très intéressante la notion de “hide” avec sa surface variable.
Cette fois, ta promenade n’était pas sur terrain plat !!
Plaisir de redécouvrir les arbres en fleurs, l’explosion de floraison.
Beaucoup aimé l’histoire et la vidéo d’Alfie, les chorales, florale et humaine 🙂
La potée de ta dernière photo est de toute beauté et harmonie.
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I totally agree about the last photo. As for my ‘walk’, I couldn’t even call it a stroll, it was taken so slowly!
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