Just a short distance from the dry, sandy gravel garden, descending shallow steps the atmosphere changes totally. With the lush leafy planting of Gunnera, Eupatorium, Phormium and impressive Miscanthus around a series of natural ponds.
A backdrop of ancient oaks have been joined by other more ornamental trees including Dawn Redwoods and Swamp Cypress, rarely seen Pin Oak and many flowering shrubs. This permanant structure is underplanted with moisture loving perennials, which burst into life during early spring and come into their own from late spring onwards, such as Candelabra primulas, Trollius and Water forget-me-nots. The pond margins are home to,amongst others Iris and flowering rush. Many late flowering herbaceous plants are to be seen as the season goes on, Astilbes and Persicaria though to Rudbeckia.
After the excitment of the hot gravel garden, the water gardens provide a peaceful resting place to go on and explore the remainder of the gardens.