ROCK OF AGES

60º East: A Garden Between Continents at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021

After falling out of favour as fussy and old-fashioned, rock gardens have officially made a comeback. Elly West takes a closer look at the carefully planned, naturalistic spaces that create a thriving home for alpine plants and wildlife

I’m fully on-board with the notion that rockeries are making a comeback. After all, gardening is about harnessing and bringing order to nature, cultivating a space and making it our own. Gardens based on the natural landscape, with rocks, waterfalls and outcrops, have become a common theme at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, proving that the modern rock garden doesn’t have to be a pile of stones set haphazardly into a mound of soil, planted with old-fashioned conifers and heathers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than happy for these to stay in the latter half of the last century where they belong.

However, carefully planned as a naturalistic space providing habitats for wildlife and somewhere to showcase beautiful alpine plants, and you have a winning combination. I also have a natural affinity for a little bit of order in a garden, so a rockery with spaces and pockets and nooks and crannies to tuck away individual specimens appeals to my love of compartmentalisation.

The idea of a rock garden has been around for centuries if we look to the Far East, with Japanese zen gardens using rocks to symbolise mountains or islands, and raked gravel to represent water, creating a place for quiet reflection and calm. However, the popularity of more colourful rockeries as we know them dates back to the late 19th century, when collectors brought alpine plants to the UK and wanted a way to showcase their findings. The Victorians also created shady rockeries exclusively for ferns, known as ferneries (funnily enough), appealing to the love of collections during those times.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew has one of the oldest and largest rock gardens in the world. I spent many years living in west London with Kew just down the road, and the rock garden was always a highlight on my many visits, offering drama and structure with something to look at all year round. Originally built in 1882, it’s over an acre in size and includes waterfalls and a large stone, grotto-type bridge.

Privately owned Friar Park in Henley-on-Thames, former home of The Beatles’ George Harrison, has a large alpine rock garden dating back to 1896, complete with a scale model of the Matterhorn, tin mountain goats and a mini-Swiss chalet. While the Victorians were creating rockeries on this grander scale, inevitably the ideas filtered down to our suburban gardens, with rockeries becoming a common feature in the 1960s and 1970s, before falling out of favour as fussy and old fashioned. Until now!

Rock gardens can be incredibly versatile and suit many different styles of gardening. In a shady spot under trees, rocks can provide places for ferns and moss to grow, creating the effect of a miniwoodland dell. Rocks and boulders are also well-suited to Mediterranean-style gravel gardens, where they will sit happily amongst lavender, olive trees and spiky architectural plants. Many herbs thrive in the dry conditions of a rock garden, such as creeping thyme, sage, chives, lavender and rosemary. Coastal-type planting such as low-

In a shady spot under trees, rocks can provide places for ferns and moss to grow, creating the effect of a mini-woodland dell ❝

growing pink thrift (Armeria maritima), sea lavender (Limonium latifolium), small grasses and sea kale will also work well.

Plants typically found in rockeries are tough-growing perennials that don’t need much maintenance, well adapted to cope with hostile conditions and drought, making them perfect for low-maintenance gardeners. Succulents such as houseleeks hold water in their fleshy leaves and need little soil for their roots, so can be tucked into crevices in rocks where other plants might struggle. Alpines tend to be small and low-growing, and so are ideal for smaller gardens where space is at a premium. There are plenty to choose from, including primulas, saxifrage, pulsatilla, sedums, campanulas and dianthus.

Now is the perfect time to start building a modern rock garden, big or small. Plants will have a chance to establish through the summer before the enemy – winter wet – sinks in. Take some time planning your space and choose a free-draining site that gets plenty of sun if you want to grow traditional alpine-type plants. Use local stone where possible as it will fit with your surroundings and the carbon footprint will be lower. Try one of the local quarries around Bristol and Bath, have a look on Gumtree, or see if your neighbours have any going spare, especially if they are having some building work done.

Try to find a mix of stones of varying sizes for a more natural look. Larger rocks should be used at the bottom, and then you can build up your rock garden in tiers, backfilled with topsoil. Alternatively, an existing dry stone wall or rocky area of the garden may provide missed opportunities for planting if you can infill spaces with soil and squeeze in some small plants.

Top dress bare soil with grit or fine gravel to help drainage around the crowns of the plants. Water is also a great addition to a rock garden, especially if you can create a cascading waterfall, with a simple sump and pump to circulate the water around. n • ellyswellies.co.uk

Project of the month: make an alpine trough

If you fancy having a go on a smaller scale, why not create a minirock garden in a container such as an old ceramic sink, stone trough or tin bath? Choose an open and sunny spot, preferably somewhere visible such as on a wall, so you can admire the small, often jewellike plants close at hand. Drainage is key, so make sure your container has plenty of holes in the base and use a soil-based compost mixed with equal parts coarse grit. A layer of crocks in the base of the container will also help improve the drainage. Once you’ve added the soil, arrange a few rocks to suit the scale, then fill it with plants such as sedums, sempervivums and small bulbs. Top dress with grit or some other decorative aggregate to help conserve water in the soil, suppress weeds, and also to make the whole display more attractive. Remember to water during dry weather, particularly in the first season while the plants establish themselves.

Clevedale is a handsome mid terrace bay-fronted Victorian family home, one of 5 in an attractive elevated terrace with a stunning riverside location and enjoying wonderful open leafy views towards Kelston Round Hill, a nearby local landmark.

This beautiful family home has well presented, spacious accommodation arranged over 3 floors and is entered into via a large reception hall from which all ground floor rooms lead. To the front, with a charming aspect overlooking the river, there is a generously proportioned bay fronted drawing room with a central period fireplace and exposed floorboards. To the rear there is a dining room that leads through to the well-appointed kitchen and breakfast room that spans the width of the property to the rear.

On the first floor there are 2 generous double bedrooms, the master enjoys a lovely open aspect to the front and has plenty of built- in bespoke storage. In addition, there is further smaller bedroom to the front and an impressive bath and shower room with a feature claw foot bath.

The loft space has been converted into a large double aspect bedroom with lots of built-in eave storage and a well fitted ensuite bathroom.

Externally to the front there are stone steps that lead to the front door along with a pretty well-manicured level lawn and small paved sun terrace. To the rear, conveniently accessed from the breakfast room, there is a secluded paved sun terrace that spans the width of the property with steps that lead to a well-stocked terraced garden with raised beds and a timber framed garden shed.

In addition, there is gated access from the garden and a right of way across the neighbouring property for pedestrian side access to the front for bins and bikes etc.

The Shallows, Saltford

• 4 bedrooms

• Desirable riverside village location

• Well presented accommodation

• Access to the garden from the breakfast room

• Arranged over 3 floors

£750,000

New King Street, Bath

OIEO £1,100,000

A superbly appointed period Grade II listed townhouse situated on a quiet street in a wonderful central location and with the benefit of a most attractive garden to the rear. • Grade II townhouse • Superbly presented throughout • Central location • 5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms • Stunning drawing room • Landscaped gardens

London Road West, Bath

£1,495,000

Four substantial town houses crafted to impeccable standards in a prime and commanding location. The houses have generous accommodation arranged over five floors with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, cinema room and benefits from underground parking with south facing terrace gardens. • 3739 sq ft • Large living space with bi-fold doors • Internal photographs are from House Four • 5 bedrooms, Master with sliding doors to terrace • Bespoke Schmidt Kitchens

How to plan for your next move…

Most people when considering to sell their home do so in the same way: they begin by doing some research online to get a sense of the market and, of course, to get an understanding of the potential value of their home.

Their next move is to have their property valued by two or three agents, from which they make the big decision on who they believe will best represent them in their home’s sale. Then there is the rush to get the property marketed and on the internet to reach potential buyers.

But is that the best approach?

The internet and website property portals, such as Rightmove, are fantastic for sellers, buyers and agents alike. But what many buyers and sellers do not realise is that they are not where every home is listed, and it’s not necessarily the place to start a marketing campaign.

In this highly digital age, there is a revolution happening that sees more and more sellers turning the clock back to the pre-internet solutions, preferring a more person-centred form of selling that involves a focused matchmaking approach for property and people. You may be one of those buyers who is continuously frustrated by the lack of available properties online, believing that these are the only homes available to you, when in reality there are far more opportunities that buyers are unaware of. The UK had record sales of 1.5 million transactions in 2021, and interestingly, 300,000 of those properties were sold offline – that’s a staggering 20% of the entire market.

So how do you go about finding out about these properties…?

Firstly, you need to be in a position where you can proceed immediately, either having sold your property or having cash or funding available to execute a purchase. There has been in increase in the number of buyers that are employing the services of property search agents to help find their ideal home and negotiate deals. Another option is to work with an estate agent who will sell your home and also proactively help you with your property search, informing you as soon as new properties come to the market. Note, however, that most estate agents act solely on behalf of a seller, and they will represent their client’s best interests in the negotiation. So, how do you go about selling your home offline...

In some ways the process of selling offline is the same, and one of the most important decisions you need to make is choosing an agent experienced in offline sales – the one you feel will best represent you and your home.

What are the main benefits of selling offline?

•The experience and skill of your agent will undoubtedly guide and influence your final sale price, and being offline certainly puts you in a stronger negotiating position. •Your agent will have confirmed all potential buyers introduced to your home are in a good buying position and expect to pay a little more to secure the right home. •If it’s a sensitive sale, your neighbours need not know your intentions to sell. •Buyers are more likely to give extended time for you to find your next home, so you’re more in control of timings… •At worst, you’ll receive invaluable buyer feedback ahead of listing online.

At Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, we’ve listed some beautiful homes that we’re actively promoting offline. To find out more, call us 01225 904999

Scan here and see what the market is like for your home

www.petergreatorex.co.uk

MARDAN, BATH’S BESPOKE REMOVALS AND STORAGE COMPANY, DEVELOPS NEW TALENT

Mardan have a wealth of experience within the removals and storage industry, spanning over 30 years, ensuring customers have a stress-free and seamless move. Mardan are family run and bespoke with the experience, knowledge, skills, equipment and capacity to complete removals of any size; locally, nationally for domestic or commercial customers.

Marcus, Mardan’s founder, has always held fast, with confidence, to his belief that he can deliver a high standard of removals, exceeding that of his competitors. Marcus knows to do this he must have trust and confidence in the skills of his staff, which he does. So when a new office position was required within Mardan instead of recruiting externally Marcus looked to develop a team member which he already had extreme confidence in and who he knew would develop into the role seamlessly, Nik. The role would include; liaising with customers, completing quotes, emailing quotes, planning the removals diary, logistics and managing the storage yard. Nik, had worked with Marcus within removals for over 10 years having a strong knowledge of all aspects of removals and with the skills necessary to lead a team from Mardan on removals. Nik has risen to the challenge and is thriving. Marcus and Nik work extremely well as a team thus ensuring all customers have a personalised service and a positive move experience. Both Marcus and Nik enjoy completing the physical removal and Marcus truly believes that to do the ‘office’ role well it’s important to continue to complete removals, thus maintaining the in depth knowledge developed throughout their earlier careers. Marcus and Nik are able to be flexible with their roles and keep their ‘hand in’ the hard physical work of removals.

Mardan continue to grow their self-storage facility, offering safe, secure and reasonable storage to upward of 100 domestic and commercial customers.

“We used Mardan following a recommendation from a friend. They moved us in and out of storage and then into our renovated house. I would highly recommend them. The service was super efficient and the guys were quick, polite and courteous. Nothing was too much trouble and all of our possessions arrived safe and sound”

Emma Webster, Moon Client

Mob: 07899 847857 Tel: 01225 317645 www.mardanremovals.co.uk

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL MOVERS • packers • STORERS • SHIPPERS

Crafting innovative, thoughtfully designed homes with generous living spaces across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire. Visit our website for more details.

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Widcombe Crescent O.I.E.O £400,000

Grade l Listed · Georgian · Beautiful private garden · Amazing views over Bath · Double bedroom · Recently renovated to a high standard · Private storage vaults · 10-minute walk to the town centre · No chain · Approx. 658 Sq. Ft. · EPC: C

NEW St Georges House £500,000

Modern Build · Two double bedrooms · En-suite · Private roof terrace · Under-croft parking for two vehicles · No chain · Central location · EPC: B

NEW Park Street

O.I.E.O £390,000

Grade ll Listed · Georgian · Two double bedrooms · Beautiful views · Newly refurbished · Private area of a large garden · Close to local amenities · Ground level bike storage · Approx. 609 Sq. Ft. · EPC: D

NEW

Kensington Place O.I.E.O £300,000

Grade ll Listed · Georgian townhouse · Top floor apartment · Modern décor · Two double bedrooms · Close to local amenities · Great views · Approx. 590 Sq. Ft. · EPC: C

Listed · Georgian · Private front door · Maisonette · Three bedrooms · Three bathrooms · Unique property · Storage vaults · Short level walk to city centre · Close to transport links · Approx. 835 Sq. Ft. · EPC: D Walcot Parade

O.I.E.O £270,000 Georgian · Grade ll Listed · Beautiful views · Newly refurbished · One bedroom · Top floor · No chain · Central location · Approx. 355 Sq. Ft. · EPC: D Henrietta Street O.I.E.O £360,000

Georgian · Grade I Listed · Second floor apartment · Spacious master bedroom · Central location · Beautiful period features · No onward chain · Approx. 509 Sq, Ft. · EPC: D

NEW NEW NEW

Great Stanhope Street O.I.E.O £480,000 Victoria Bridge Court O.I.E.O £350,000

Two bedrooms · En-suite · Ground floor · Riverside location · Gated access · Allocated undercroft parking · Visitor parking · Secure bike storage · Private patio · Communal garden · No onward chain · Approx. 749 Sq. Ft. · EPC: C Paragon

O.I.E.O £280,000 Grade ll Listed · Georgian · Top floor apartment · One bedroom · Beautiful views · Spacious bedroom · Central location · Approx. 596 Sq. Ft. · EPC: C