Visit to Balmoral Cottage

Garden of Charlotte & Donald Molesworth, Benenden, Kent, UK

An artist’s garden…

Balmoral Cottage is a one-acre private garden in the south east of England that was lovingly planted and clipped by Charlotte and Donald Molesworth over the past 40 years. It is full of beautiful topiary forms that draw you into a fairytale swirl about the garden, taking you deep and deeper into its cottage garden magic. It has long been known, respected, and beloved by gardeners in the area, and most recently it had a visit from British TV presenter Monty Don, who said that “all of its topiary have been grown and made by a master of the craft.”¹

Before the Molesworths purchased it, Balmoral Cottage had been the working kitchen garden for the estate of Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram, who is known to gardeners as the man who re-discovered Prunus ‘Taihaku’ or the 'Great White Cherry' that had been presumed extinct.

Balmoral Cottage is only open on special days for the National Garden Scheme to raise money for charity, so you must plan ahead if you hope to visit on a trip to the UK.

The NGS says of Balmoral Cottage:

“An owner created and maintained garden now 40 yrs mature. Varied, romantic and extensive topiary form the backbone for mixed borders. Vegetable garden, organically managed. Particular attention to the needs of nesting birds and small mammals lend this artistic plantswoman's garden a rare and unusual quality.”²

Join me on a special tour of Balmoral Cottage from my visit in April…

Cherry ‘Taihaku’ planted near the entrance of Balmoral Cottage

Looking back to the NGS entrance tent at the end of the main Yew walk at Balmoral Cottage

The main Yew Walk at Balmoral Cottage which branches in every direction to untold numbers of walks and circles around the garden.

Inside the gate to Wonderland…