Vibrant, 'tropical-style' garden in Devon thriving with bananas, ginger, and traditional English garden plants such as roses and daisies
Nestled in the picturesque coastal town of East Prawle, Devon, Ash Park has transformed from a holiday home into the main residence of the Vanderspars for the past 11 years. This 3.5-acre property, located just three miles from the ferry to Salcombe, boasts a unique semi-tropical garden that thrives in the windy coastal area.
The garden's windbreak, a crucial element in withstanding the coastal winds, comprises a mix of inherited and newly planted species. The shelterbelt includes tough shrubs and trees such as pines, leylandii, bamboo, and fast-growing hedging like griselinia, pittosporum, silver-leafed Elaeagnus ebbingei, euonymus, laurel, oleaster, and spotted laurel.
For a wind-resistant, salt-tolerant, and drought-resilient garden, the Vanderspars have carefully selected a variety of plants. Griselinia and pittosporum, fast-growing hedging plants, provide dense screening, while hardy trees and shrubs like the Coast Silver Oak and Cape Milkmaid offer layered protection. Bamboo, planted in front of taller windbreak trees, further softens and diffuses strong winds.
Mr. Vanderspar has also introduced cacti, agaves, echiums, aeoniums, and other succulents in gravel beds, adding a touch of the exotic to the garden. The bottom of the slope, sheltered by the windbreak, is more lush and subtropical, with plants like dahlias, gingers, cannas, hedychiums, and bananas thriving.
The original house at Ash Park, built in the Edwardian era, burnt down in the early 1980s and was rebuilt, retaining some of its original characteristics. Today, the property is home to Chris Vanderspar, former principal cellist at the Royal Opera House, and his wife, Cathryn.
Chris Vanderspar, along with gardener Mark Cater, has made numerous changes to the garden, including creating narrow, winding paths to reach new areas and shaping trees to incorporate the rocky outcrop. The Vanderspars' garden is a vibrant tapestry of plants from around the world, including gingers, cannas, cordylines, bananas, monkey puzzles, cacti, camellias, proteas, lampranthus, and the Chilean fire tree.
Despite the garden's growth, the Vanderspars maintain a laissez-faire attitude towards self-seeders, wanderers, and clumps that need dividing. This approach allows the garden to evolve organically, creating a truly unique and enchanting space.
Ash Park opens for the National Garden Scheme, offering visitors a glimpse into this coastal semi-tropical haven. For more updates on Ash Park and other gardens, follow Caroline Donald, writer for The Sunday Times, on Instagram @pacets.
Sources: [1] RHS [2] The English Garden [3] The Telegraph
- The vibrant tapestry of plants at Ash Park, sourced from around the world, seamlessly incorporates various elements of interior-design, blending cultivars such as gingers, cannas, cordylines, bananas, and the Chilean fire tree within the picturesque home-and-garden landscape.
- The ongoing evolution of Ash Park's garden, fueled by a laissez-faire attitude towards self-seeders and clumps, mirrors the lifestyle of its residents, the Vanderspars, who have transformed the property into a unique home-improvement endeavor that flourishes in the Devon countryside.
