IN THIS GUIDE
Combermere Abbey , locate on the mete between Cheshire and Shropshire , is a 1,000 - acre estate and home to the world ’s only fruit tree maze .
This maze is not the only attraction , as the site is also habitation to pleasance gardens and a mediaeval Knot Garden .
I visited in early May and address with the estate ’s proprietor , Sarah Callander Beckett about the account , aim and secret features of these spectacular gardens .
Restoration Of The Gardens
“ This house and its garden have been in my family – the Crossley family – since 1919 , ” share Sarah .
“ I take it on in 1992 after I came back from quite a farseeing stint working abroad and I began pulling it back together again , as it was a short lost .
“ The garden had not been terrifically developed at all and the fence in gardens were entirely vacate .
“ There were too few people to look after them before I assume over and there was no longer a pauperism for the vegetables and fruit that would have previously serviced the house .
“ As a resultant of this , the walled garden was the first domain that we begin to furbish up . ”
The Fruit Tree Maze
“ The six - acre palisade garden is home to several unique features , ” Sarah begins .
“ In 1993 , we were introduce to Randoll Coate , a Maze Designer who come on a sojourn to Combermere . It was thanks to Randoll that we now have a fruit tree labyrinth in the walled garden .
“ It ’s the only one of its eccentric in the universe . It’smade up of applesand pear – and along the bulwark it has apricot , peachesand quince . From the aura , it is in the shape of an eye . ”
“ What I had n’t thought about really was that I was going to get yield off these trees , ” she jest .
“ We gather about a thousand kilos of yield every class that gets pressed and put into the breakfast hampers for our wedding ceremony guests . ”
The Pleasure Gardens
“ The pleasance garden was something that was plant in the later 1800s and was originally for the Edgar Albert Guest of the house to walk up to after lunch or being in the house , ” excuse Sarah .
“ The previous Viscount travelled extensively and planted up some rather grand trees , so we have some fantastic old Wellingtonia specimens , a cedar of Lebanon and a Swamp Cypress .
“ More recently , we have built a small marquee in honor of my female parent who give-up the ghost three years ago , which is border by a low selectionof Magnolia species .
“ At this time of yr , we have raft ofRhododendronsin flower , the most detectable of which is a bright pinky - deep red colouration .
“ These always pick up the feel of the garden after quite a long ( and wet ) wintertime like the one we ’ve had this twelvemonth . ”
Visiting Combermere Abbey
“ We do have a plenty to take aid of here , as the wall gardens are forever germinate , ” says Sarah .
“ We ’re looking at ways of making them a spot more sculptural and less taxing for the squad to seem after .
“ learn people bask them is my number one cause for spending the time and money in these gardens .
“ It ’s so authoritative to let the public enjoy them and get the benefits from being outside in these beautiful space . ”
To find more about the garden at Combermere Abbey , you canvisit their website .
