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High Glanau Manor – NGS Garden Visit

High Glanau Manor, Lydart, Monmouth Gardens open to the public

A hidden gem with the most stunning views.

My first visit out after lockdown to a NGS Gardens Scheme open garden was to High Glanau Manor, in Lydart just outside Monmouth.  The house and gardens are less than 10 minutes’ drive out of Monmouth and are a peaceful, calm oasis.   The house is privately owned by Helena and Hilary Gerrish who have lovingly resorted the garden to its former glory and is understandably not open to the public.

The History

 It is a beautiful Arts and Crafts house which was built by Henry Avray Tipping in 1922-23.  Tipping was an architectural writer, the Editor of Country Life Magazine and a garden designer.  The house is set in 12 acres of native woodland, with formal gardens, a productive kitchen garden and 100 year old wonderful greenhouse, with all of the heating, water and piping still in place and I assume operational, such as you would see at the renowned Heligan Gardens in Cornwall.

Rhodenderons at High Glanau Manor

The views towards the Vale of Usk and the Brecon Beacons are stunning and you can only imagine sitting on the terrace watching the sun rise or set in such a blissful place with a cup of tea or glass of wine.  The landscape must change dramatically throughout the year when the trees change colour during the autumn and then burst back into life in the spring.

On Arrival – The Bluebells

When you park in the field which is the car park, you then walk towards the house and gardens via a long drive which is full of native British bluebells and primroses.  Unfortunately due to the cold weather that we are currently experiencing, the bluebells had not quite opened up, but they must be spectacular once they have opened their blooms in a week or so.

There are a range of terraces and pools as well as a 100ft herbaceous border which has not quite come out into bloom, but will be fabulous once it has.  There are numerous tree peonies which were out in bloom and were a stunning yellow, reminding me of huge buttercups.

Garden pool at High Glaneau Manor

The garden has become a labour of love for Helena Gerrish and she has done a wonderful job of restoring this house and garden back to their former glory.

I will be returning on Sunday 6 June for the Rare Plant Fair and look forward to seeing the garden in warmer weather and to see two of my favourites the peonies and agapanthus bursting into life.

View towards the glasshouse

Here is a link to the High Glaneau Manor website

Here is a link to the Rare Plant Fair on 6 June 2021