The Secrets Of Cobble Cottage Gardens: A Small Garden That Packs A Mighty Punch

At the heart of a small village in North Yorkshire lies Cobble Cottage, a private garden owned by John Hawkridge & Barry Atkinson.

The stunning garden is small in size but packs a mighty punch, with hundreds of plants creating a jungle-like effect amongst the busy planting schemes that envelop the paths you walk through.

I visited the garden and spoke with John, who was kind enough to show me around and share some of his favourite features of the garden at Cobble Cottage.

Watch the full video tour here:

History Of The Garden

“We’ve been living here for 33 years now,” shares John.

“When we first moved, the garden was completely grass, there was no pond, just a tarmac drive, so it was a good garden to start from and be able to put our own stamp on.

“The first thing I did in the space was build a pond. I spent weeks digging, it now is 3 feet deep, and it goes right across the garden.

“Rather than having a path at the other side, we’ve got stepping stones across it, which is in keeping with the other winding passageways around the garden.”

Plants In The Garden In May

“Up on the lawn we’ve got a real mixture of different plants,” says John.

“There’s cornus, azaleas, and alliums, which have all done really well this year. There’s also cow parsley, which I love, because it is airy and light, and at this time of year, it seems to float over the other plants.

“In this garden, you’ve got to look up as well as down because there are some fantastic trees, such as the acers. I love the shape and colour of the leaves of these plants.

“We’re only in mid-May, but the highlights in the garden at this time of year have to include the roses, which have started earlier than usual. The ‘Desdemona’ rose smells particularly wonderful.

“Heucheras are another passion of mine. I love the colours and the different textures and shades of the leaves.

“The biggest collection in the garden has to be hostas, as we go from the minis to the larger-leaved varieties, which people don’t always tend to see.’

John’s Best Kept Secret

‘The most rewarding thing about the garden is growing something that shouldn’t be growing here, like the Abutilon,” he shares.

“I once saw it growing in a garden near Helmsley and was told that it shouldn’t be growing in the north of England because, I mean, the climate 20 years ago was different.

“The owner actually gave me a cutting from her tree. I think I’m now on to the third generation of that family, because they’re not long-lived, but they are quite easy to grow cuttings from.

“Every time a new cutting comes up and flowers, it is so rewarding and I shall never ever forget the owner saying ‘try it’.”

Visiting Cobble Cottage

“People return year after year to see how the garden has progressed,” explains John.

“It’ll never stand still and is always evolving, so it’s great to share it and make money for many wonderful charities.”

If you want to find out more about visiting Cobble Cottage, head over to the National Garden Scheme website to discover when they are next open.