Turning the tide after a washout

Farley Dingle, between Much Wenlock and Buildwas, is a delightful sheltered valley that takes the Farley Brook from Much Wenlock to the river Severn.

What an idyllic spot for an old woodman's cottage dating back to 1646 - and an ideal site to build a garden!

Those were the thoughts of Peter and Ann Wight when they started 12 years ago to create a two-acre garden at The Cottage.

Imagine their horror last July to see it swept away when the peaceful brook trickling through their garden turned into a raging torrent, carrying with it tons of rock and shale.nextpage

It also took with it tree trunks up to 40 feet long, demolishing all before it, including four bridges, and washing away trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that had been established over the previous dozen years.

All this just four days before their planned first opening for the National Gardens Scheme!

To start the garden in the first place was quite an engineering achievement.

"We could hear the stream but not see it, as there was so much rubbish," Ann explains. The garden is in a valley with steep banks going up into woodland either side.nextpage

"It took three years to develop the shrub terraces on the far side of the garden and remove the tree stumps," Peter adds.

Stone walls were built to contain the stream and beds created with lots of moisture-loving plants, particularly hostas.

"We have over 80 different types," Ann tells me.

Trees feature strongly, with more than 50 planted, particularly those more unusual ones like Prunus serrula for the mahogany bark, snake bark maples, liquidamber, Robinia 'Frisia' and Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula'.

Lilacs provide wonderful scent in early summer, as do choisyas.

"Anything with a label on which says it is beneficial to birds, we buy it," Ann reveals. Rhododendrons and azaleas do very well, and roses flower over a long period - as long as the visiting deer leave them alone!nextpage

After last year's disaster Peter vowed to have the garden restored and open again for this summer, and set about restoring retaining walls, uncovering some beds with tons of rock and debris, and replacing some borders with tons of topsoil and mushroom compost.

Most of the plants buried in debris have come back unscathed - those swept away have been replanted.

"Many of the hostas and Primula candelabra I had for last year's plant sale have gone straight back into the garden," Ann explains.

Twelve months on and you would not know what had happened; the restoration is remarkable.nextpage

Everything is looking so lush and healthy and it really is well worth a visit to see what Ann and Peter have achieved in a short time, to see the photos of what was here before and what the floods did last year.

The Cottage, 2 Farley Dingle, is open this Sunday for the National Gardens Scheme 11am-5pm, and again on June 22, 2pm-5pm, as part of a trail of 10 gardens for the Wenlock Festival.

The garden is not suitable for disabled people or wheelchairs.

A local artist will be displaying some of her original watercolours on Sunday.nextpage

OTHER GARDENS OPEN THIS WEEKEND:

Friday, June 6

• Cruckfield House, Ford for the National Gardens Scheme. Open 2pm-6pm; admission £4.50, child £1.

Saturday, June 7

• Brooks Lodge, Leighton, near Welshpool, for the NGS. Open 1pm-5.30pm; admission £3.

• Tan-y-Llyn, Meifod, for the NGS. Open 2pm-5pm; admission £2.50.

Sunday, June 8

• Adcote School, Little Ness, for the NGS. Open 2pm-5pm; admission £4.

• Applecross House, Alveley, for the NGS. Open 1pm-5pm; admission £3.

• Bettisfield Hall, Bettisfield, for the NGS. Open 2pm-5.30pm; admission £2.50.

• Brooks Lodge, Leighton, near Welshpool, for the NGS. Open 1pm-5.30pm; admission £3.

• The Cottage, 2, Farley Dingle, near Much Wenlock, for the NGS. Open 11am-5pm; admission £3.

• Gate Cottage, English Frankton, Cockshutt, for the NGS. Open 1pm-5pm; admission £2.50, child 50p.

• Lee Bridge House and the White House, Lee Brockhurst, for the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. Open 2pm-5pm; combined admission £3.

• Marehay Farm, Gatten, Ratlinghope, for the NGS. Open 11am-6pm; admission £2.50.

• Morville Hall gardens, Morville, for the NGS. Six gardens open 2pm-5pm; combined admission £5, child £1.

• Tan-y-Llyn, Meifod, for the NGS. Open 2pm-5pm; admission £2.50.