Reflect Awile

They are the only gardens in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to be registered with the Royal Horticultural Society and English Heritage. The 16 acres of gardens were created out of a treeless, windswept landscape by Sir William Milner during the time of economic depression in the late 1920s.Whilst renovations of the hall were taking place, the excavations and clearance provided the stone to build the terraces on the south facing slope of what was to become the garden. The simplest of tools were used from pickaxes to shovels and wheelbarrows. It gave much needed employment to the men from nearby villages. Rare and unusual plants’ trees and shrubs were introduced, collected from western China and the Himalayas by well known plant hunters of the time Reginald Farrer of Ingleborough Hall and George Forrest, making this one of the show gardens of its time. Whilst today they would probably not be described as a show piece they must be among the most tranquil, and there is a Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll influence on the terraces. Walking up from the car park you pass a bog garden with iris and
various marginal plants. Then there is a choice of a walk up the drive or a stroll through Tarn Ghyll Wood which is an ideal place for rhododendrons, many of which came from the plant hunters. There are two orchards which were cultivated for vegetables during the Second World War in the Dig for Victory campaign, and are now home to traditional varieties of fruit. Moving up towards the hall, a half moon shelter provides a water feature with a gentle trickle breaking the stillness.Wisteria is trained on the walls and white planting adds to the purity in the beds. The next terrace is divided into sections by yew hedges and again soft, gentle planting adds to the beauty. Two prunus form an archway and are a picture, particularly in early spring. Further on, a round pond forms the centre of a religious cross which has beds filled with perennial plants. A pergola is constructed out of reclaimed wood from the storms of 1991. A delightful pink rose adorns the walls of the hall, which is not open to garden visitors. Beds along the perimeter and to the side are planted with colourful annuals and a gateway leads across the drive to the Chapel Garden where a small water cascade leads to a half moon pool flanked with seats. Trees and perennials offer shade and interest and a small fernery nestles behind the chapel. From here there is a rock garden created from the North Craven fault where limestone has pushed through the gritstone layer to
form a belt of rock. The soil was removed to leave the bedrock exposed. This area really suffered during the decline and is now, with a lot of hard work, home to a vast amount of special and delightful alpine plants. Sir William was a founder member of the Northern Horticultural Society, pioneering the creation of the gardens at Harlow Carr, near Harrogate, now under the care of the Royal Horticultural Society. Following his death in 1960, the gardens were neglected. But during the1980s much enthusiasm and hard work was put into restoring and adding to them making them the delight they are today. Whether a plantsman or not, these gardens will surely give you a great deal of pleasure. Open from April 1st to October 31st, 10am to 6pm. Entrance £5.50, seniors £4.50 and children £2.50 Tea room for light refreshments. Phone 01756 720630 for opening times.

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