10th April 2025

On yet another bright and sunny spring day, we ventured north to explore Coton Manor Gardens, while meeting up with friends. This was a new destination for all of us. The spring day turned into a surprisingly warm one, making it particularly lovely to relax outside in the courtyard while enjoying coffee, then lunch, and then tea.

We all arrived a little before the scheduled opening time of 11:30 am and met up as we queued at the entrance, eager to begin our exploration. Our first order of business was a visit to the café for coffee and some tempting cakes. We found a table in the sun-drenched courtyard.

We soon discovered that the gardens are privately owned and meticulously cared for. During our visit, we spotted the owner, Susie Pasley-Tyler, diligently tending to her plants. One member of our group, perhaps mistaking her dedication for something else, made the slight faux pas of asking if she was a volunteer helper. The polite and direct reply came, “No, I’m the owner.”

We wandered into the gardens themselves. Laid out on a picturesque hillside, they feature a network of ponds and flowing rills. The water originates from a natural spring. Remarkably, this natural water source is consistently reliable, having continued to flow even during the severe drought of 1975/1976.

Beyond the tranquil ponds, waterfalls, and flowing water features, the gardens are also home to an array of animals including birds. A couple of endearing Kunekune pigs basked contentedly in the warm sunshine before eventually seeking the cool shade of their sty as the day grew warmer. Various duck species, including Mallards, elegant Tufted Ducks, and the more exotic Fulvous Whistling Duck, make their home within the garden’s boundaries. On the lowest pond, there was a small flock of flamingos adding a splash of vibrant colour to the scene.

For R, a particular highlight was discovering a large and flourishing patch of Cowslips, her favourite wildflower. She noted with a touch of disappointment that the Cowslips in our garden weren’t faring as well this year, perhaps a consequence of the preceding wet winter followed by the current dry spring.

Returning to the café for lunch, we enjoyed an excellent meal that was served promptly and efficiently. Then we took a further leisurely walk around the garden, revisiting some of our favourite areas and finding new spots to relax and soak up the afternoon sun. The gardens became pleasantly quieter as the afternoon progressed.

Two areas of the gardens were not yet open, indicating it was still a little early in the season. These were the bluebell woods, which we were informed should open later in April, and the wild flower meadows situated at the bottom of the garden. For those who anticipate multiple visits throughout the year, there is a special season ticket available, which proves to be a worthwhile investment for three or more visits.

The car park is located on the opposite side of the road from the Manor house and gardens. The adjacent fields by the car park are currently planted with elephant grass, a crop grown for biofuel production. Given its brown and dry appearance, I would assume it was awaiting harvesting.