Kilver Court Gardens

Kilver Court gardens, set against the impressive backdrop of the Charlton Viaduct, were created over 100 years ago by Ernest Jardine – a progressive industrialist who wanted to give his workforce inspirational working conditions. Known then as ‘Jardine’s Park’, the gardens and boating lake were used as an oasis for the worker’s recreation. In the 1960s, Kilver Court and its gardens were purchased by the Showering family, of Babycham fame, to house some of their production.  The family was instrumental in transforming the gardens into what you see today – a carefully maintained 3.5 acre garden for the public to enjoy.  When Roger acquired the site in the 1990’s, he put his own stamp on the gardens by creating a formal parterre and herbaceous borders. The parterre is based on the classic geometric designs found in the ‘Place des Invalides’ in Paris, and is an immaculate example of box hedging.

The latest addition to Kilver Court is a stunning new garden nursery which sits adjacent to the gardens, providing a total experience for garden lovers. There is an unusual selection of the very best herbaceous, alpine and subtropical plants for sale which Roger has fou­­nd by scouring the country and selecting from specialist plant suppliers and growers.  Many of these plants will also be featured in the garden’s newly restored borders and visitors can be inspired by plant combinations, colours and settings. Customers can also browse the nursery shop which is stocked with the eccentric and excellent in garden tools, collectables, outdoor furniture and garden accessories, all personally selected by Roger and his wife Monty.

2016 will be a very exciting and busy time in the garden as Roger continues to work with his gardeners to re-plant the gardens’ herbaceous borders with fresh colour schemes and the rockery, long in need of an overhaul, is also being edited. This year, Roger and his team of gardeners intend to enhance the natural vista of Kilver Court’s gardens with a wild meadow border that naturally draws the eye away from the garden towards the historic viaduct and open countryside behind.