The potager garden at Golden Point has been experimental - and has proven to be more difficult than anticipated to grow the range of vegetable varieties intended. The growing season is short; wildlife can be over friendly; the soil is heavy clay; the weed prolific. So the garden evolves! Works in progress!

The design is simple, though obscured somewhat by the exuberant profusion of rambling, tumbling plants. There is a central axis running north/south, around which narrow curved paths follow the circular line that divide the overall plan into about 30 raised beds defined from local stone.By the end of summer a severe haircut is required to expose the original design, and to rediscover the stone walls that provide the framework, colour and warmth for the ensuing winter months.

Each side of the garden is enclosed by a growing curtain of espaliered apple and pear trees (old varieties from Badgers Keep at Chewton) and a perimeter of shrubby roses such as Fruhlingsgold, Rosa foetida "Persiana", Buff Beauty...

Within there are permanent beds of perennial artichokes, rhubarb, asparagus and chives. Thymes of all sorts tumble over the rockwork, rosemary, nepeta and santolina (both grey and green varieties) are hedged or mounded to define the garden beds. Large balls of teucrium fruticans and buxus '"sempervirens" help the eye to differentiate the layers together with the slender columns of Italian cypress.

Bare spaces fill quickly with beautiful "green manures" such as sky-blue flowered Phacelia tanacetifolia, brilliant yellow mustard, calendulas, borage or nasturtiums. Flowers are everywhere - as companion plants to attract bees and to eat in their own right.