The ancient Hertfordshire village of Welwyn is locally referred to as ‘Old Welwyn’ to avoid confusion with its better-known neighbour, Welwyn Garden City, itself in the history books as the second garden city founded by Sir Ebenezer Howard. It is on Old Welwyn’s outskirts that an enchanting sunken Pulhamite rock garden can be found, painstakingly restored and lovingly maintained by local enthusiasts.
The Danesbury Fernery is hidden from view in a pasture forming part of a local nature reserve that was once part of the estate surrounding Danesbury House. In 1859, its then owner, William John Blake, commissioned the creation of a fernery in a disused chalk pit 500 metres east of the house.
