Horticulture Magazine

Visiting The Ancient Trees At Parvey Lodge Garden: A 3 Acre Space In The Heart Of Cheshire

the garden at Parvey Lodge with mowed lawns and topiary boxes
By MOLLIE BROWN
Mollie Brown, MA - Digital Web Editor

Mollie is a Gardening and Sustainability Writer from Cheshire in the UK. She graduated from the University of Leeds with an MA in Creative Writing in 2022.

/ Updated November 20th, 2024

Nestled within the heart of Cheshire lies the stunning three-acre Parvy Lodge, a private garden with lots to offer.

Several trees thriving in the garden have stood for centuries, dating back to the Victorian era and even earlier.

In mid-April, I had the pleasure of visiting the garden and speaking with Tanya Walker, the owner of Parvy Lodge.

She guided me through the grounds, drawing my attention to some of the garden’s most remarkable features.

Ancient Victorian Trees

“The formal garden that you can see around me was developed many years ago and is home to many magnificent old trees,” shares Tanya.

“The first and most notable one is the Himalayan cedar, which was very popular in Victorian times.

a Himalayan cedar tree with huge branches in a garden with mowed grass

“We have lots of Acer trees and they’re scattered all around the garden, which provides a beautiful colour.

“You can see lots of cherry trees throughout the garden too and some of them are still in bloom in April.

“We have a beautiful orchard in the secret garden where there are several fruit trees too.”

The Gardener’s Pride And Joy

“Our box hedges are the pride and joy of my gardener,” Tanya explains.

“He has 28 box to shape in the shape of a ball and we also have a hedge in the shape of a train, which definitely it’s worth visiting and seeing.

“There was a family who came here and they said their granddad owned the land and the house in 1930 and planted the box, so it has survived for years.

“I hope they see this and know it’s still there and is being very well looked after.”

a box hedge that has been pruned to the shape of a train

“The orchard is the oldest part of the garden,” she continues.

“It’s the home of two pears, seven apple trees and two Victoria plums.

“We also have a little vegetable patch filled with bulbs and some crops, such as wild strawberries, which are great for jam. Behind that, we have the most beautiful espaliered apple trees.”

old trees growing in the secret garden at Parvey Lodge

“The Secret Garden is surrounded by big trees that have been standing for the past two to three centuries,” Tanya adds.

“They provide a home for many many bird species which frequent the garden.

“We also create piles of sticks that are used as hedgehog and bug houses, which is a great way to incorporate even more wildlife into the space.”

Visiting Parvey Lodge

“The most rewarding thing for me is to be able to share the garden with the other people,” says Tanya.

“Last year alone, we raised £2,400 for the NGS and we have started opening for various other local charities.

azaleas and rhododendron shrubs growing alongside one another at Parvey Lodge

“We are happy to be contacted by other charities that need any support.”

To find out more information or to arrange a visit to Parvey Lodge, head over to the NGS website.

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