Returning Home — and Finding a Garden in Need
When I made a speculative side trip to Somerset in December 2024, I had no idea that Margery Fish’s garden at East Lambrook was about to change our lives. We were living in Seattle, but feeling the pull of home after more than thirty years away. We had seen the Manor listed for sale on-line but an offer had been made. However something about it compelled us to visit anyway.
What we found was a beautiful English garden at a turning point. The owner wasn’t entirely comfortable with the existing offer, as it would have meant the permanent closure of the garden. Fast forward five months and we had sold up in America, packed our worldly goods into a couple of containers, and moved into a medieval house with a Grade I listed garden, a national reputation, and a community of people who cared deeply about its future.
We weren’t new to gardening—we’d created several gardens over the years including a 2‑acre cottage garden in Washington State—but East Lambrook is a different scale of responsibility. What we discovered was a garden in need of fresh energy, and that became our starting point.
Restoring the Green Garden: Before and After
One of the first areas we tackled was the Green Garden, an impenetrable corner right by the entrance. Roughly 10m x 15m, the original shrubs were still there but it had become overgrown with a solid mass of Vinca topped with bramble. Clearing it was heavy work, but as the old layout emerged, so did our sense of purpose. The transformation has been one of the most satisfying milestones of our first year.
Green Garden before and after. Paths emerged and buried plants were revealed.
Key Projects and Milestones in 2025
Much of 2025 was spent uncovering, repairing, and rethinking areas that had quietly slipped out of view:
- Restoring the long border by the main lawn
- Reorganising the working area for composting, propagation, and growing-on
- Opening up a new 30m x 10m section for future planting
- Beginning the transformation of the old car park into an orchard and picnic area
- Welcoming chickens into the garden (they like to help the volunteers)
- Making the White Garden more white, with some fresh planting and subtle tweaks
- Empowering staff and volunteers to tackle long‑standing jobs
- Reclaiming the private courtyard at the front of the Manor and opening up what should be the herb garden by the kitchen
- Clearing years of chemicals and clutter from the potting shed and surrounding area
- And yes — installing a rather fancy coffee machine in the café
All the while, the garden stayed open. We talked to visitors, learned names (hundreds of them), celebrated milestones with the community, and mourned lost friends. We welcomed curious friends and family from America and the North of England, all wondering what on earth we were doing. Truthfully, we’ve loved every minute.
Looking Ahead: Plans for 2026
If you visit now, the overall garden looks fabulous, but you’ll see a few corners that are very much a work-in-progress. Please bear with us. Our aim is simple: to help the garden and the community thrive while honouring the legacy of Mrs. Fish.
Thank you to our staff, volunteers, neighbours and visitors for your support throughout 2025. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 and sharing the next chapter of East Lambrook’s story.
Andrew and Alison – The new owners: shortly after move-in in May 2025.