GARDEN TOUR
Geoff Hodge discovers a once-derelict Leicestershire plot that has been carefully crafted into a botanical masterpiece that shines in autumn
The garden at The New Barn is a crafted masterpiece of plant beauty. But that’s understandable when you discover that Anthony Nichols is a plantsman, qualified horticulturist and garden designer who previously worked at Chelsea Physic Garden and was a horticultural therapist. His partner Rupert Pullin is, as Anthony puts it, a willing learner who gets fully stuck into the gardening jobs. The garden is more than a plant collection. “It’s a space we use for entertaining and relaxing, and as an artistic outlet. I wanted a garden big enough to create different spaces, hot and sunny as well as cool shade, to test out growing different plants together and in different ways, such as using island beds as well as borders. I like to develop gardens in the same way as designing a room – considering the colours, what’s on the floor, the atmosphere and its ambience.”
Anthony has created an ‘eyeful’ at every turn, incorporating complementary shapes and colours.
It is productive as well as beautiful, Anthony and Rupert grow a wide range of fruit and veg. Many of the fruit trees are heritage Leicestershire varieties, including apples ‘Annie Elizabeth’, ‘Belvoir Seedling’ and ‘Leicester Burton Pippin’, which taste delicious and are perfect choices for the local conditions. They keep chickens for eggs and manure and bees for honey as well as helping to pollinate their and their neighbours’ crops.
When they first moved to the house, the garden was derelict, unloved and contained only some mature trees (some of which they kept, including a liquidambar) and ground elder –and it was overrun with a red persicaria. So the couple had a more-or-less blank canvas to create their paradise. The way the garden is designed and planted provides mystery and surprise, as you can’t see everything all in one go – there’s something exciting around every corner. And the undulating, sloping site helps accentuate the wonderful views across the Leicestershire countryside.
The orchard and wildlife pond are informal areas, as is the relaxed sloping section, which is mainly based on foliage. The rose and kitchen gardens and koi pond are more formal. The rose garden mostly features David Austin English roses that include Anthony’s favourites: the long flowering ‘Desdemona’, ‘Imogen’, ‘Lark Ascending’ and ‘Tottering-By-Gently’.
“My children bought me the latter as an amusing birthday present!”
The couple have also created several quiet spaces for relaxation at different times of the day. “We made a commitment to each other to take more time to sit and enjoy what we’ve created, and for life rebalancing. We have one area for breakfast, another for lunch and others that are perfect for elevenses, gin o’clock and sundowners!” But like most keen gardeners, Anthony rarely sits for too long when a rogue weed or something that needs tidying up catches his eye.
Being the holder of the National Plant Collection of Geranium phaeum cultivars and primary hybrids also keeps him busy. It currently comprises 86 different types. “I wanted to have a national collection and have always loved Geranium phaeum for its foliage as well as its flowers. When I get interested in a plant, I can get a bit obsessive! Some people think the only flower colour is a drab, dark red (hence the common name of mourning widow), but I wanted to show that it’s much wider, ranging from pearly white through to the delicious red of ‘Rose Madder’. I also wanted to show people different ways of growing them, using the National Collection decoratively and attractively.”
They’re the perfect plant for dry shade, although Anthony says they did well in 2022’s heatwave, which came as a surprise to him. “I believe plants can, to some extent, adapt to the local conditions that they’re growing in.”
The soil around the plants doesn’t get weeded like the rest of the garden, as he may get a seedling that’s worthy of naming as a new variety. He’s had success in this area, naming new varieties after each member of his family. Others are gifted to friends or sold during open days.
Other plant obsessions include hostas, with favourites such as ‘Sum and Substance’, ‘Flemish Sky’, ‘Empress Wu’ and ‘Guacamole’, hardy begonias like ‘Red Undies’, ‘Bells and Whistles’ and ‘Nanjiang Silver’. Then there’s some hardy chrysanthemums, including ‘Chelsea Physic Garden’, ‘Emperor of China’ and ‘Cottage Lemon’, as well as all manner of different asters, such as ‘Chilly Fingers’, ‘Coombe Fishacre’ and “anything with Ballard in the name!”
Over the past year, the couple have developed a shaded walk, a further geranium nursery bed and Anthony was successful with a bursary request to Plant Heritage and will be using the new RHS colour charts to further identify and categorise his National Collection.
As you’d probably expect, the garden here is planted for year-round colour and interest, but mid-autumn is Anthony’s absolute favourite time of year with its seasonal leaf colours and fabulous gilded architectural grasses.
“For instance, I love Helenium autumnale ‘Short and Sassy’ growing through chrysanthemum ‘Emperor of China’. Even its bronze-green leaves complement the orange daisies. As I look across the garden from my office, I see a patchwork of blues and lilacs interspersed with gold and bronze.”
It sounds a delightful pleasure, with lots of sources of inspiration.
PHOTOS: NEIL HEPWORTH
IN THE GARDEN WITH…
Anthony Nichols and Rupert Pullin
AT: The New Barn, Leicester
SIZE: One acre
SOIL: Mostly good loam, stony rubble nearer the house
FEATURES: A kitchen garden and small orchard with newly planted Leicestershire heritage fruit trees provide additional interest. A real plantsman’s garden with extensive autumn colour.
VISIT: Check ngs.org.uk for 2025 opening dates.
