Lady Anne Berry - Rosemoor Garden

Rosemoor Garden

Rosemoor Garden was created by the Lady Anne over a period of some thirty years prior to the RHS coming on site, from about 1960 to 1988. “Tucked into the north-east corner of the estate, it remains very much a plantswoman's garden, dominated by surrounding woodlands, with a number of discrete areas where choice subjects take full advantage of the warmth and shelter offered by the south-westerly aspect and high ground to the north”. It owes much to its beautiful situation, “nestled within encircling woodlands in the wooded valley of the River Torridge near Torrington in rural north Devon”. The garden developed in a naturalistic style, with sweeping lawns and curving borders set out as the plantings expanded. There was no masterplan, but designer John Codrington who later became a life member of the RHS, provided drawings, in particular for the early development of warmer sheltered areas near the house, which were of great assistance. In 1974 the garden first opened for the public. A highly successful small nursery was started in 1979. The garden was noted for rare and unusual plants, as was her nursery.

The garden did attract significant numbers of visitors already in the 1980s. Nowadays the number of visitor's are counted beyond 100,000. Significant changes in visitor facilities were made. Apart from that in the mid 1990s 37.5 hectares (0.375 km2) of woodland surrounding the site, mainly coniferous forest, was added to the garden, securing the land bordering the garden from unwanted change, providing opportunities to blend the garden into its surrounding landschape and also providing it with a range of additional experiences for visitors.

“Lady Anne's garden was (and remains) a very personal garden, largely informal and relaxed in style, with extensive areas of parkland and arboretum. The 'new' RHS developments were intended both to expand upon and to complement the existing garden, featuring diverse and wide-ranging plantings, many in a more formal framework, with particular emphasis on ornamental and productive horticulture.” Rosemoor would become the first Regional Centre, “a sort of mini Wisley”. Wisley is the “flagship garden of the RHS”.

The new garden areas at Rosemoor were designed to complement and contrast with Lady Anne's garden. Most important of these new areas is the so called Formal Garden. Another new development is the Fruit and Vegetable Garden.

For the next 10 years from 2008 onward a growth from 130,000 to 175,000 visitors is foreseen.