The Dawn Garden

Previously the Old Rose Garden, this space was originally a formal rose garden whose scent was cleverly held within the neatly clipped yew hedges. The presence of disease in the soil meant the roses failed and had to be removed. A ‘fallow’ period has been observed for seven years during which the soil has been replaced and treated.

The area has now been transformed into two new 12m x 8m beds that have been shaped to echo and respond to the surrounding yew hedging. The perennial planting scheme was designed by Stody Lodge owner, Kate MacNicol, and is predominantly white with accent colours of dark plum red. The design was inspired by the Perennial Garden, the stunning white show garden that won the RHS Chelsea ‘People’s Choice Award’ in May 2022. The planting scheme for one border has been repeated in the other but rotated through its central axis. This creates a sense of cohesion and unity across the two borders but without one being an exact mirror image of the other.

The Dawn Garden is named after a much-loved grandmother who was a keen gardener and closely followed the progress of this project. The name for the garden has also been chosen as, given its North East to South West axis, it is the first formal area within Stody Lodge Gardens to receive the morning light.

James Wild has been commissioned to create a sculpture for the central plinth to replace the sundial. The sculpture will be installed in two years, just as the perennial plants within the garden reach maturity. James will recycle scrap metal from Stody Estate farm to create a unique circular piece that captures the essence of renewal and eternity.

Please note that in May 2023 the plants will be freshly planted, not yet fully established, and spaced with their future growth in mind.