The Gardens

Walled Garden at Sharpham House

The present walled kitchen garden has the remains of several greenhouses, including three that were sunken and heated by hot water circulated in large pipes that are still visible. The old boiler is still in place below ground nearby. The present greenhouse was built around 1985 and grows grapes, peaches and nectarines.

In the 1960s, a swimming pool was built in part of the Walled Garden and the old potting shed was turned into the changing rooms. The circular pool outside the Walled Garden is all that survives from a 19th century flower garden.

The Percy Cane Garden

Thanks to investment from the Trust and funding from Devon Gardens Trust, the Percy Cane Garden has been refreshed into a place where fragrant tea & tisane herbs grow.

Head Gardener Bryony Middleton has preserved Cane's Italianate look, with the incredible view to the River Dart, re-planting the quartered beds with a variety of herbal plants which will support retreatant's journeys while they stay at Sharpham. Find out more here and read a piece about the renovation here.

Woodland Garden at Sharpham House

We do not know when the Woodland Garden was established, however, the Ash family developed and extended it in the 1960s and 70s. The lower part of it was a Victorian pinetum and there are still several fine specimen trees there. In the last few years, we have removed large areas of overgrown Rhododendron Ponticum and Cherry Laurel and are currently redesigning some of the newly opened up areas.

Orchards

Two orchards have been planted since 2000, designed by Ben Pike, Sharpham's former gardener. Grand Sultan, Sops in Wine and Doll's Eye are just some of the lovely quirky and playful names of the apple varieties that grow here.

The Barn gardens

Retreatants practice mindful gardening daily at The Barn - helping to produce organic food to be prepared, cooked and eaten there. Polytunnels help to provide food all-year-round there.