What to see in the garden this summer

Nestled between the house and neighbouring St Peter's Church is the West Garden with magnificent borders and lawns, a perry orchard, and winding paths around picturesque ponds filled with wildlife and surrounded by plants and trees. An ambitious project to create a vibrant, 17th-century inspired garden is well under way at Dyrham Park.

The garden is awash with colour this season with beautiful borders, picturesque ponds and selected spots for picnicking.

The borders along the Avenue have a huge range of blooms and a display of lavender that brings a delicious fresh scent to the air.

The West Garden

Inspired by key historical documents including an engraving of Dyrham Park from the 17th century, the gardeners are transforming the West Garden into a vibrant 21st-century garden with flavours of the past. The borders and lawn of the Avenue represents the historic west entrance to the estate, looking up towards the house and a watchful statue of Mercury. The planting and designs bring your attention towards this view, guiding the eyes through a tunnel-like shape of manicured lawns and long, rectangular flower beds.

Watch out for blossom on cider apple trees being trained on attractive purpose-built iron frames along the Avenue's edges in the espalier design of the 17th century thanks to a recent gift in a will by a generous local donor. Varieties include 'red styre' cider apples, thought to originate from Gloucestershire and now very rare. At the end of the Avenue are historic gates which would have been the main entrance to the house in years gone by.

Pool garden

The pool garden with its gentle cascade is a relaxing place to wander round or take a break on a bench. The borders are filled with colour and the ponds teeming with life.

The lower pond is surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers planted around meandering pathways, lawns and reveals, and stuffed full of colour and seasonal interest like a jewel box. Small trees give height and shade and plants give all year round reflection over the water.

The borders around the upper pool are planted in a wilder, looser style, with self seeding varieties such as foxgloves and honesty mingling amongst roses and small trees. Under the mulberry is a shady border of geraniums, ferns and sweet cicely.

Perry orchard

On the south side of the garden is Nichol's perry pear orchard, which is full of wildflowers in the early summer months and a great place to picnic later on in the season. The garden team has mowed paths and secluded picnic areas in the orchard so you can feel like you're immersed in the flowers and grasses without having to stray from the paths.

Fountain Court

By the house, the courtyard garden known as Fountain Court is presented as a 17th-century herb garden, with wall trained fruit trees and a variety of herbs.

The Greenhouse  

Discover the Greenhouse which is attached to the house. The Greenhouse was converted in the 19th century with a glass roof for year-round planting. When cold outside it was full of delicate plants on large shelving. In the summer the plants moved outside, and the room became an enormous conservatory, with cane chairs and the walls decorated with maps and sculpture. Unusually the Greenhouse always had direct access from some of the best rooms in the house.

Wildlife

As well as trees and plants in the garden, there is an abundance of wildlife with countless bees and butterflies and, at night, bats.

Picnic spots around the parkland

In the middle of the parkland, Old Lodge not only has picnic tables, some of which are undercover, but has an enclosed area where children can explore and play. Over in the orchard, the garden team have mowed some areas so you can sit and take in nature while enjoying lunch.

The grassy area outside the east front of Dyrham house is the perfect spot for a picnic with a view of the 17th-century building. Meanwhile, there are large picnic tables at the edge of the car park under the trees.