Westbury Court Garden was originally laid out in the early 1700's in the style of the formal Dutch Water Garden and were planted extensively with yew and holly to create effective barrier hedges for protection from the cold, Gloucestershire winter winds.

These large gardens set on low land on the banks of the River Severn were designed to be a delight to walk through and most importantly to be productive.

Canals were stocked with fish, rabbits were bred in warrens, orchards planted and large vegetable plots prepared to provide sustenance to the family and villagers alike. 

It was a grand country estate of much repute being featured in Country Life on many occasions.

But (no) thanks to Capability Brown's famous departure from the formal to the flowing landscape, it all fell into terrible disrepair and the family sold off much of the land, including the manor House, to developers.

Thankfully, however, the National Trust intervened in the 1960's and undertook the largest garden renovation of its kind to date, aided by detailed engravings of the original gardens.

Today this is the only restored, authentic Dutch style water garden in the country and contains a huge collection of heirloom fruits and vegetables, along with an outstanding collection of trees. This includes the largest collection of black Poplars along with some of the oldest and rarest trees in the UK.

Also included are some varieties of Apple that date back to Roman times and span through the Edwardian era. Look out for labels that detail their name, age and variety. 

There's also a collection of old Medlars, a fruit that is now enjoying a renaissance, probably thanks to Westbury Court.

There's plenty to see here including a long canal of 137 metres bordered by thick yew hedges, colourful low borders and espaliered fruit trees. This is overlooked by a tall and elegant Dutch style pavillion which offers excellent views over the entire gardens.

Extensive ponds are chock full of water lilies and authentic vegetable, berry fruit and herb plots feature many heirloom varieties and utilise many of the same methods of growing from the 18th century. 

Each veggie plot includes many old varieties of colourful border flowers and the plant labeling is detailed and highly informative.

An example is this of Rhubarb which was originally grown as a medicinal herb to be dried and powdered for use as a laxative. It was only when sugar became more available that it was cooked to be eaten as a delicious dessert.

There is a small secret walled garden at the far end full of the best of English summer border flowers and shrubs along with some musty old outhouses that contain many of the original engravings of the garden layouts along with inventories of plants and services originally purchased.

Plenty of sumer colour can be seen in the formal flower gardens, all very neatly laid out in the typical symmetry of this more elegant style of gardening including many topiarised shrubs, standing like guards in an Alice In Wonderland garden.

Don't miss the majestic evergreen Holm Oak before you leave which could be the oldest in the country along with some very striking examples of Portuguese Laurel.

The Westbury Court Garden is not the most well known of English gardens and some may mourn the lack of a great house that overlooks, as so many great gardens have.  It does feel rather like an orphan, deprived of its parent (the Manor House was demolished in 1805) that has been replaced with some council houses just over the fence.

 But regardless, we think it is a garden well worth visiting and provides much to satisfy the horticulturalist, botanist, historian and general gardener alike - and taking a picnic is highly recommended.