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The Grove, Chandlers Cross.
Introduction to the gardens at The Grove
This former country house estate, located only 19
miles from the West End in London, has, over the
last 5 years, been rescued from virtual dereliction.
It has been re-invented as a world class hotel and
leisure club with a superb golf course laid out by
Kyle Phillips. Balston & Company were invited to
redesign and partly restore the dilapidated
gardens. These include a formal garden, which
forms the focus of the entire building complex and
a walled garden some distance to the north.
Formal Garden – under 10,000m2
There has been a strong emphasis on achieving a
plan that locked into the interior architecture, which
has been designed with great flair by Martin
Hulbert of Fox-Linton Associates. Consequently
the old and new dialogue was as important outside
as it has been inside. Picking up on the original
18th and 19th century layouts, Balston & Company
sought to create a 21st Century garden that
recognised and built on what had gone before and
which made an effective counterpoint to room
layouts and character inside. Focal points in the
layout were Nesfield’s Rose Garden dating from
the mid-nineteenth century and the sunken box
garden. These were connected to the building with
a rectilinear grid in a precise diamond-cut York
stone. The overlying sinuous paths were
developed from pedestrian desire lines and the
locations of the magnificent trees in the garden.
The Rose Garden has been replanted. Behind the
newly planted box and lavender edging Roses and
Hydrangeas will billow with flower as the garden
matures.
To the south a 137m-long stepped canal was
created which included repeating blocks of
fountains. This drew on the inspiration of the former
rectangular pools in the area. At its source
craftsmen in Scotland specialising in whisky stills
commissioned a magnificent copper bowl.
Alongside the canal is a 150m long mixed border
with raking hedges cut with curving tops, providing
a subtle rhythm of light and shade along the length
of the border. Carefully chosen planting contrasts
strong textures against the hedges and gives
moving displays of co-ordinated colour throughout
the year.
Sculpture has an important place in the work with
excellent pieces by Nathalie Decoster and Gregory
Ryan. Fruit ornament including pears, apples and
walnuts from the Landscape Ornament Company
is scattered around the Formal Garden. The
Landscape Ornament Company also provided the
timber benches.