The Over ACHIEVER

Sitting within the South Downs National Park, just outside the village of Alfriston, Follers Manor enjoys spectacular views across the Cuckmere Valley, with rolling hills cradling the floodplain where the River Cuckmere meanders down to the coast near Seaford. It was these views that sold the property to Anne and Geoff Shaw in 2006 yet made them wonder how to introduce a garden into such impressive surroundings. After renovating the house, they engaged the services of landscape architect Ian Kitson, giving him an open brief with only two stipulations: namely that it had to be both wildlife-friendly and colourful.

“The path manipulates perspective and scale, alternating intimate and big landscape views”

Ian’s response was a dramatic transformation from a site containing rough grass, the evening before Anne and Geoff’s first open garden day in 2014 resulted in 800 visitors flocking to see the garden.