Charming contemporary countryside garden surrounds a historic farmhouse in Dorset, creating a peaceful rustic paradise.
In rural West Dorset, gardening means learning humility fast. The ocean's fierce southwesterlies, dive-bombing badgers, rabbits, deer, and even Thomas Hardy's Wessex landscape itself can leave your finest plans in tatters. Embrace it, though, and you'll find a beautiful balance in this stunning corner of England.
Hugo Bugg, gold medal-winning designer and Dorset native, faced challenges aplenty when tasked with a seven-acre remake of a historic Dorset estate. His clients - an architect and her solicitor husband - were particular about every detail. But their shared reverence for Dorset's historic landscape made for a perfect partnership.
Together, they sought to reconnect the garden with its breathtaking surroundings. Over six months, rhododendrons were slowly but surely dismantled, opening up wide, sweeping views of the historic hedgerows and undulating Dorset hills. The result is a contemporary garden that's both striking and sympathetic to its natural beauty.
The central section of the garden features a pair of sumptuous borders, each hiding a delightful secret. One border showcases a soft palette of dappled light and textured perennials, while the other bursts with colors that reach for the sun as it heads toward summertime. Both offer a visual bridge, connecting plantings across the seasons.
Paths meander through long grass, leading to romantic features like a rose-draped pergola, mossy orchard, and a revolving wooden summer house. The journey descends from order and formality to loose and wild, ending at a medieval moat filled with frogs, dragonflies, and marshy plants.
Little Benville House is more than just a garden; it's a celebration of time and change, of the seasons and the generations who shaped its unique character. Every day, as the sun gilds the oaks, there's a moment when time stands still, and you can feel the garden's heartbeat.
Plants from Little Benville
Euphorbia x pasteurii
Rodgersia pinnata 'Chocolate Wing'
Amsonia hubrichtii
Geum 'Totally Tangerine'
Dryopteris wallichiana
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. leichtlinii
Iris 'Tropic Night'
- In the central section of the redesigned garden at Little Benville House, a pair of sumptuous borders display a rich diversity of plants, such as Euphorbia x pasteurii, Rodgersia pinnata 'Chocolate Wing', Amsonia hubrichtii, Geum 'Totally Tangerine', and Dryopteris wallichiana.
- The soft palette border showcases delicate plants like Euphorbia x pasteurii and Geum 'Totally Tangerine', creating an ethereal effect with their textured perennials that capture the dappled light.
- A closer look at the second border reveals vibrant species like Amsonia hubrichtii, Rodgersia pinnata 'Chocolate Wing', and Iris 'Tropic Night', which shimmer with colors as they catch the sunlight in their quest towards the summer.
- The verdant paths of the garden wind through tall grasses, guiding visitors toward romantic features such as a rose-draped pergola, mossy orchard, and a revolving wooden summer house, decked with home-and-garden charms.
- The design philosophy at Little Benville House seamlessly blends outdoor-living elements with the natural beauty of its West Dorset landscape, creating a lifestyle that harmonizes perfectly with the environment, fostering a deep appreciation for gardening and the rhythm of the seasons.
