Braglands Barn Garden

Site, Soil and Conditions

The lowland parts of West Somerset have one of the most favourable climates in Britain, enjoying much of the warmth associated with South West England but having warmer drier summers than Cornwall or West Devon, being protected from the prevailing south westerly wind by the high ground of Exmoor. The plants growing in some of the excellent local gardens such as Greencombe and Court House bear witness to this, these gardens receiving additional winter protection due to their proximity to the Bristol Channel. There are, of course, local differences and micro-climates as we soon discovered.

A view of the Kingswood valley from the footpath up to Stogumber. The house and garden are not in view; they are hidden at the bottom of the valley on the right side of the picture.

The garden is situated just outside Stogumber at the bottom of the valley separating the Quantock and Brendon Hills and, as such, is in what meteorologists call a ‘frost hollow’. Having been interested in weather and climate for most of my life, I was aware of frost hollows, but unaware how dramatic their affect could be. Winter temperatures have been as low as minus 10C, but even more damaging are the late spring frosts which can occur as late as 10 June in some years. Obviously, this restricts the sowing times of French and Runner Beans but its most damaging affect is on the young growth of deciduous shrubs such as Acer palmatum some of which have been killed outright.

We get considerably less wind than areas further west and large well-shaped mature oak and beech trees are common in the area - contrast this to the stunted wind swept hawthorn of coastal areas further west. We are most troubled by the NW wind which funnels up the valley but this has been tamed somewhat by the trees and hedges we have planted.

A windswept sycamore taken on a recent visit to Cornwall. A more dramatic specimen will shown in due course.

The garden lies on the boundary between red sandy soil on the west side of the valley and the clay at the bottom of the valley and to the east. The pH varies from slightly acid to neutral with the red soil being the more acidic.

The area around the house is the most low-lying and in winter the water table can rise to the surface. There is, unfortunately, nothing we can do about it as there is nowhere to drain the water without laying drainage pipes for 100 metres across the neighbouring farmer’s field. The red sand is at a slightly higher level and can drain very sharply. This provides us with naturally contrasting areas and greatly increases the range of plants that can be grown.

The view down what we call the long border. The soil at the top is free draining red sand, the soil at the bottom waterlogged clay.

We are very fortunate to live and garden where we do, but occasionally we would like fewer late frosts.