Mar 31, 2025

Wildside

April is the month to visit Wildside in Devon, well every month is worth a visit, but this month is extra special because of a certain plant. Wildside is located 8 miles north of Plymouth, tucked away at the foot of Dartmoor, an extraordinary garden created by Keith and Ros Wiley.

Why April? Well, this is the month when Keith’s favourite flowers are in full bloom, namely the Erythroniums. Plantes as dense woodland carpets or groundcover, underneath shrubs and trees as well as tumbling down steep banks so that you can enjoy them at eye level.

Now twenty years old now, the garden was created from a 4-acre Devon field. However, it no longer resembles a field, Keith has sculpted the land to create a diverse range of growing conditions, he has moved over 100,000 tonnes of soil! He is a master of planting design and Wildside is an experimental landscape, in my opinion it is by far one of the most inspirational gardens in the country. It divides into three areas, the lower garden with winding waterways and twisting paths, lush streamside planting along with the most exquisite woodland flora including a Wisteria walk. The second area is the only formal space in the garden, a stunning courtyard with a 80-metre long Wisteria-clad pergola. Finally, probably the most dramatic area is The Canyon Garden which must be seen to be believed, it features the Tribute Garden, an area dedicated to Ros Wiley, who sadly died in 2019.

If you would like to watch the documentary about Wildside, made by Garden Masterclass please go to www.gardenmasterclass.org

And if you only visit one garden this year, let it be Wildside!