IT may be called Seechem Manor but you won’t find a formal garden surrounding this old farmhouse. When Nicola Sethia and her husband bought the house at Rowney Green, near Alvechurch, 16 years ago, the garden was much smaller and was largely just agricultural land.
The house, which is 550 years old and a grade two listed building, was orginally Seechem Farm but was renamed by its previous owners.
When it came to designing the garden Mrs Sethia said that despite the grandeur implied by its name, a formal garden would not have matched the house itself.
She said: “I personally didn’t feel that I wanted to have a formal garden here, I thought it was more in keeping with the house to have a more casual, classic garden.”
When the Sethias first moved to Seechem Manor there was very little garden to speak of. The orchards were old and dilapidated and despite efforts to try and save as many trees as possible, many had to be cut down.
Mrs Sethia said: “We had to start from scratch. I’ve always been very interested in gardening but at the time I had four small children.
“I didn’t have a lot of time to do very much but I made a start on it and it gradually evolved. A garden reflects the type of person you are and I knew what I wanted. It was just a question of trying to incorporate all these things.”
Visitors to Seecham Manor arrive along an oak tree-lined drive past a wildlife pond and meadow before reaching the mediaeval house, which is not open to the public.
The manor house itself is covered with climbing roses, clematis and wisterias, while the three-acre garden has herbaceous borders, a rose walk, ponds, a water feature and plenty of wildlife.
Mrs Sethia said the garden largely survived this year’s harsh winter but was struck down the year before. The garden pond was filled with enormous carp, all of which died, but have now been replaced.
Mrs Sethia said: “It was pretty devastating but the garden is now back on track.”
Meanwhile, the vegetable garden, orchard, and mixed poultry provide year-round produce.
Å Seechem Manor, Rowney Green Lane, Alvechurch B48 7EL. Open Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, between 11am and 5pm.Admission £3.50, children free. Contact 0121 445 2240 or e-mail nicolasethia@hotmail.
co.uk.
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