GARDENS & FARM
A stroll through the seasons
Rooted in a passion for the local land, food and entertaining, the carefully curated menus are farm- based and plant-inspired.
The Gardens
Six-time Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist, Bunny Guinness helped Caryn to create a series of classic country house gardens that not only frame the barns, houses and cottages creating delightful spaces in which to relax, but also working gardens and orchards on the farm that supply flowers for the house, food for the kitchen, and herbs for the spa.
The barns create a series of walled courtyards; their honey- coloured stone reflect and radiate the warmth of the sun and all have their own individual personality. They have been designed to encourage you to relax and linger with various arbours and seats in quieter places. The planting is lush, changes with the seasons and includes large terracotta pots, cork oaks, espaliered fruit trees, herbs, flowers and vegetables.
The Farm
The 150-acre working farm is divided into an eastern lower half and a higher western half. The river Leach runs through the lower eastern side of the farm with its water meadows and rich alluvial soils; it is the perfect place for the kitchen garden situated on the edge of the meadows, safe from the flooding that happens naturally every year.
Thyme’s vegetable gardens are carefully managed ensuring abundance from the land whilst protecting and maintaining a healthy rich soil. Featuring a herb garden, cutting gardens and poly-tunnels to extend the seasons, the garden is productive all year round, growing carefully selected flavoursome and unusual varieties to supply and inspire the restaurants, cookery school and spa.
GARDEN & FARM
The Wildlife
The water meadows and riverbanks are carefully managed as wild spaces to encourage native flora and fauna to flourish and thrive. Together they support a diverse ecosystem of wildflowers, otters, kingfishers, egrets and water voles, to name but a few. We welcome visitors to look around the farm by prior arrangement with one of our gardeners.
We can offer Early Bird walks with our ornithologist, looking at the spectacular wild birdlife that call our farm home.
