A delightful afternoon with George Carter by garden designer: Caroline Garland

by caroline / Tuesday, 28 May 2013 / Published in Gardens Visited

George Carter’s heart belongs to the 17th centry garden and he emulates some of the austere architectural liines of that period in his fascinating garden in Norfolk: Silverstone Farm. “Surprise is one of the chief delights of a garden” he says and around every corner of his beautiful garden one is met with a folly, a visual joke, a trompe l’oiel or a tiny statue… His garden is made up of geometric pathways between rectangles of lawn delineated by clipped box, pleached and hedged hornbeam and hawthorn hedges and obelisks! We wandered around on a warm afternoon the tour being conducted by George Carter himself, very self effacing and charming, moving from room to room, surprise to surprise… what a lovely way to spend an afternoon… followed by tea in the barn! I urge you to go in August or September:

House and garden of George Carter ‘one of 10 best garden designers in Britain’ Sunday Times. Visitors see ground floor of 1920s neo-Georgian farmhouse, library in barn (part of 1830s farmyard complex) and elegant formal gardens in 2 acres, all accompanied by owner. Subject of two TV programmes, many books and magazine features.

Tour 1½ hours, £13 including tea and cake. Books by George Carter for sale.

Location: North Elmham, Norfolk