The walled kitchen garden is like a secret garden at Wiveton Hall. I only know it’s there as a friend rented a wing in Wiveton Hall a couple of years ago, and let me in on the secret. And it’s a delight. In fact, I ‘d go as far as saying I’d die happy if I had such a garden of my own! It is open twice a year for the National Gardens Scheme, or you can just pay £2 in the farm shop to go and see it, but it’s not advertised heavily in the café, shop or on the website, so you could also easily miss it!
Once you enter, the whole feel of the garden is slightly unkempt,
and all the more charming for it.
However, the professional hand of Amanda, the gardener, is evident throughout, as she conjures up an endless supply of fresh vegetables and herbs for the Wiveton Hall Cafe, to complement fruit and veg grown in the Wiveton Hall Farm (which is also ‘Pick Your Own’ for fruit during summer).
Trained fruit trees clothe all aspects of the walled garden
and fig trees have the space to develop into large specimens (which would easily outgrow the whole of my front garden!)
I’m not sure if the garden is quite a potager as the ornamental plants surround the edibles in long herbaceous borders, rather than mixing in with the vegetables to create an overall decorative design (have a read of Petra’s latest post on ornamental edibles at Edulis),
but this slightly ramshackle kitchen garden is a beautiful
and productive space combined.
After you’ve had your fill of flowers and veg, you can saunter over to the café for the tastiest lunch around for miles (or for tea and whole array of very tempting cakes) and gaze across the marshlands and out to sea. Delia also highly rates this eaterie and if you’re ever near the north Norfolk coast, both garden and cafe should not be missed!
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This does look like your ideal garden!
Pause, while I indulge in a bit of garden envy. It’s lovely that the rest of us can at gain access to places like this.
Be still my beating heart…. sigh….. it’s truly lovely!
Hi Nicolette, Helen and PJ Girl, It is great to have the opportunity to see gardens like these. I found it truly inspirational, as well as just a great spot to spend time in. Now planning to add a fig tree (in a pot!) and more flowers to mix in to our community front garden.
We went there when we stayed in Blakeney. We walked along the coast path and then had lunch at the gorgeous cafe. Such a great place. It’s one of those places that makes you tempted to move right across country just so you could go there every Saturday for brunch.
Hi Louise, Yes, I found myself doing that walk from Blakeney to Wiveton Hall to eat a delicious slice of Victoria Spounge almost on a daily basis. Bit dangerous really. Have now started a diet!
It’s fantastic! Thanks for the lovely tour. I’m lusting after those stone walls. I’m also lusting after a vacation in that wing at Wiveton Hall. Wow. What a gorgeous, spacious, comfy cozy place. I could move right in.
My favorite part, though? Where it stated that there was a refundable cleaning deposit for bringing a dog – and a higher price for bringing 4+ dogs. Most vacation rentals in the U.S. don’t even allow one dog, let alone 4+, especially in a place as posh as that (even if they are only allowed in the garden and utility room). I had such a good laugh when I read that. I love it! 🙂
Hi Susan, Those stone walls will make a girl lust!
With fantastic coastal walks, you wouldn’t want to leave your hound behind when holidaying in Norfolk. You’d love Wiveton Hall-loads of hens with their chicks there when we visited too.
A lovely display of combining flowers and vegetables. Very nice garden!, next time I am in Norfolk I will definitely go for a visit!
Hi Laila, Definitely worth the visit! V.best Naomi
Have a look at this one, it’s unique anywhere in the world, let alone Norfolk!
[…] it’s a fantastic reason for sojourning in Norfolk (along the north coast to be precise!). I have blogged about the garden before, but I find that with each new visit comes a fresh wave of inspiration. I mean, what can beat the […]