Visit to Bourn Mill and Garden Tours

Kate Armstrong writes: we took over the garden of around an acre of established shrubs and herbaceous borders, set in lawns. Over time, we enlarged and extended the beds introducing interesting plants from our travels around the country. It has had several replantings, using established shrubs as framework. More recently, the replanting has been led by Rovena Postol, an experienced horticulturalist and garden designer. Rovena says: ‘We work on sustainable planting schemes that offer year-round visual interest, choosing plants that need less water, attract pollinators, and provide winter seedheads for birds, along with leaves and stems that serve as shelter. All of this is done while honouring the local character of the area and maximizing visual appeal.’ The borders have been planted with grasses mixed with plants that have more natural structure, such as fennel, Verbena bonariensis, Echinacea purpurea, Cephalaria gigantea and Echinops ritro, which reflect the meadows surrounding the garden.

Well established trees include a majestic weeping willow near the alluvial pond, ornamental red leaved cherry (Prunus cerasifera), silver birch and a pretty ornamental pear (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’). They say that, ‘with every mill there is an apple orchard’ and this is true of our garden, where the miller probably planted apple trees whose wood could replace applewood cogs that wore out frequently when the mill was in use. The age of the trees is not known. 

The smaller borders that wrap around the cottage and barns have been planted to withstand particular challenges including rainwater runoff, drought and occasionally limited soil depth so the selection combines traditional cottage garden plants with a more Mediterranean feel in places. The natural alluvial pond has wild wetland flowers that give resident water birds nest-making materials and some protective cover for the young chicks and ducklings. The small island in the pond has been planted in a similar vein, though it is a drier habitat and the plants reflect this. This also encourages insects, such as dragonflies, mayflies and midges, and therefore attracts a variety of bats which visit the gardens in summer evenings. An established colony of invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and rodents, some more welcome than others, in turn brings foxes, badgers, owls and other raptors. Don’t miss the ancient white rose, trained along the boundary wall by Kate (see photo) and other fragrant and colourful climbers!

Time: meet at 2:00pm for a cold drink on arrival.

Logistics: parking in the front field, via the private drive. Parking for those less mobile is available nearer the mill and cottage gardens. Following the drink, we break into groups for tours of the garden, led by Rovena Postol and Kate, and the windmill, led by volunteer guides. Mill tours will take place in groups of 7 at a time, so numbers will be limited to 35. Note that there are steep steps in the mill. Afterwards, an afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and home-made cakes will be served in the gardens. The event will end at 4.30p.m.

Bookings: CGT and Plant Heritage Group members £12, guests £14, by BACS transfer to our new bank account in the name of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust (sort code 30-99-50, account number 80635768) using ‘Bourn’ and your name as reference; please confirm payment by email to admin. Cheques, payable to Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust, may be sent to Judith Christie, Teal Cottage, Fen Drayton CB24 4SH..

We look forward to seeing you there!