Three more gorgeous local gardens

The Summer Season of prying into private gardens continues apace with three more in Richmond, all with interesting stories.

The Trumpeters' House commands a large plot of land between Richmond Green and The Thames.

The house itself is vast but occupies just a relatively small corner of the garden the rest of which is sweetly organised in to distinct areas (all large) each with their own character.

The long lawn sweeps down from the house to the river, turning right there takes you in to a courtyard bristling with wild flowers and turning back to the house takes you past regimental borders of mixed flowers and finally past a neat lawn guarded by two neat lines of trees.

In amongst the central flower beds, two water features mix the mood adding touches of tranquillity, slow movement and gentle noises. One of the water features is hidden by bushes and is only betrayed by the sounds it makes. The other is this large pond that proudly announces its presence and compels you to linger a while to enjoy the moment.


Ormeley Lodge is the former home of Zac Goldsmith, already famous he is now more so now that he is MP for Richmond Park.

The garden is carefully designed, like pieces from a construction set put together. There are straight lines everywhere, mostly tall hedges that divide the garden in to separate compartments for flowers, vegetables, tennis, swimming and playing.

The area furthest away from the house has been abandoned to wild flowers that rejoice in their freedom with a cloud of colour.


This garden in St Helena Terrace fits a lot of design in three dimensions in to a small place.

The more long than wide garden starts with a high viewing area, dips down in the middle then up to a studio at the far end. Two hemispheres of stone and brick defining the shape.

Water thick with lilies separates the two hemispheres but this can be crossed simply by ignoring the snake's anger and treading on him gently.

The rest of the garden is heavy with plants, many of them clustered in pots, and with just a few odd ornaments, such as a stone frog, to catch the careful eye.

Three gardens that all easily justify the time spent in them and the charitable donation it takes to get in.