A Summer Revisit

You may recall that I made a visit to a local walled garden back in the Spring when I was following the North Somerset Arts Trail. On Sunday I took my mum there for a walk and a cup of tea. I dropped mum off and parked the car. Mum was well on her way to exploring when I got back.

Barley Wood Walled Garden was built in 1901 by the head of the Imperial Tobacco Company Henry Herbert Wills who lived in Barley Wood across the lane. The garden was then restored between 1993 and 2000. It is snuggled on a south facing slope overlooking the Mendips.

It incidentally featured on BBC 1 on Countryfile on Sunday evening where they were exploring the ferments produced by the on site cafe. The Ethicurean as the cafe is called is as its name suggests an organic ethical restaurant which sources its main vegetable ingredients from this beautiful garden.

It was a lovely afternoon to sit outside and enjoy a pot of tea and soak up the surroundings.

We had not long finished Sunday lunch at home so fortunately were not in need of eating. The menu is certainly interesting but not cheap.

                                                                  

Many of the edible flowers feature in their meals.

As does a lot of the fruit.

The red brick walls are quite a feature.

They are a great background for many of the flowers in particular these cone flowers.

We both enjoyed our walk around.

There are also artist's workshops to explore.

The cafe may be pricey but the garden is free to wander around so maybe that would justify stopping back in the cafe to try a glass of cider made in their own cider house.

Alternatively you can buy surplus produce or a bottle of their apple juice in their small shop by the car park.

Certainly a  place worth a visit.