Wormsley, Stokenchurch

Penelope Hobhouse redesigned the walled garden into four quadrants, separated by brick and knapped-flint paths and buttressed yew hedges. Two are for entertaining; a green theatre in one and a croquet lawn in another. The third is the kitchen garden, growing fruit and vegetables, backed by an array of glasshouses. The fourth quadrant is a flower garden with shrubs and perennials which have to be in perfect form for the opera season in mid-summer.  

Shirburn Lodge, Christmas Common

Shirburn Lodge is an early 18th century house standing on the Chiltern escarpment, surrounded by ancient woodland. The walled garden was designed by Tom Stuart-Smith. Grass paths wind informally through insect-friendly, densely planted perennials; Persicaria, Euphorbia, Veronicastrum, Geraniums and grasses, punctuated by shrubs to give structure. A rill, surrounded by dry gravel plantings of, among others, Succisa, Echinacea and Dianthus carthusianorum, runs across the far end, with a greenhouse set against the far wall.