The Garden

Bourton House Garden opened to the public for the first time on a single Sunday in 1987 in aid of the National Garden Scheme.  Twenty years later, the garden received the prestigious HHA/Christie’s ‘Garden of the Year’ Award, a tribute to the inspiration (and perspiration!) of everyone involved in its creation over the years.

In 1983, Mr & Mrs R Paice became the owners of Bourton House and began the task of turning a neglected wilderness into the perfect garden setting for the courtyard of ancient Cotswold stone buildings.  Over the years, the garden evolved, new projects were planned and new challenges faced.  They were fortunate to have the help of a splendid gardening team, originally headed by Paul Williams followed in 1999 by Paul Nicholls, our current long-serving Head Gardener.

Imaginative topiary was introduced including a knot garden, parterre and topiary walk; natural springs used to create water features; an unusual shade house constructed and ever wider herbaceous borders created to accommodate more exotica.  Today, the garden continues to evolve, constantly surprising visitors with its inspirational planting, stunning colour combinations and rare, unusual and exotic plants.

In 2010, Bourton House Garden came under new ownership but remains open for the enjoyment of garden visitors, many of whom return year after year!

To read some of the comments from our 2010 Visitor’s Book, please read on ….

To visit our Gallery of Garden Photographs, please read on ….

Bourton House Garden was chosen as a location for a new coffee table book featuring top Japanese model and actress Yasuko Matsuyuki, to be published in January 2012.  Yasuko and the photographic team visited the garden in August 2011 and spent the day taking a series of fantasy shots in various locations around the garden.  Visitors to the garden that day were amazed to find a giant bear wandering the grounds!  Yasuko and The Bear joined owner Roelof Quintus for tea and a quick photographic memento of the occasion.  Louie the dog was not very happy at meeting the Bear and tried to take a bite out of his nose!   Yasuko Matsuyuki won a fashion magazine contest while she was still in High School and went on to become one of Japan's top models.  She made her TV debut in 1991 and has since starred in many TV dramas, feature films and stage shows.  She has a huge following in Japan and Bourton House Garden is delighted to be associated with her latest book.