© 2008 The Menagerie

The grotto was eventually completed in 1995 and repairs and restoration were necessary in 1999; Orpheus plays his lyre to shell animals in the Underworld. The eastern exotic bog garden was planted in 1996, by Jinny Blom, in the spirit of Kirby’s concept, after his death. The walled garden was built in 2001 by the current owners and has been laid out to a design by Jinny Blom who also designed the marginal planting for two new informal ponds which flank the south path, and extended the bog-garden planting.

A second stepped and paved mound has been created using spoil from the walled garden. Extensive replanning and replanting of the mixed South border was undertaken in 2005. The former Stratford-upon-Avon railway cutting has been recently cleared and planting is under way. The fifteen lion statues were cast in limestone, by Rattee and Kett, who undertook the recent restoration of the façade at Westminster Abbey, from the original, in turn constructed from two halves which survived the lightning-strike  of the Cobham memorial at Stowe.

The garden is maintained by the full-time head gardener, two part-time assistant gardeners and the current owners; it opens to public paying customers as a local amenity; teas are provided by part-time staff during garden opening hours.

The mixed border along the South side of the house was planted in 1993 enclosing the terrace in front of the portico, from where steps lead to the Shell Grotto (formerly the Georgian kitchens) in the 18th. century tradition.