You will be pleased to know that my plucky author friend Jean Adamson has made an excellent recovery from her brutal attack by a ruthless mugger in our Cambridgeshire village, though disappointly the cowardly culprit has never never found.

We are both garden lovers and after flicking through our local National Gardens Scheme booklet, we planned which ones we wanted to visit over the next few weeks. I was attracted to our first garden by the romantic name of the house, Island Hall, a stone’s thrown away in Godmanchester, and home to Christopher and Lady Linda Vane Percy. The full history of this elegant 18th century home with immaculate lawns spread out like a carpet rolling down to the river and the island can be read at this link.

Briefly,  it was bought by his ancestors in 1804 and is today renowned for its picturesque Chinese bridge which is much admired.  The garden was restored by Christopher Van Percy, a distinguished interior designer, in the 1980s having been destroyed during the war years. The house had then been used as an airman’s mess and was sold to the local council in 1958, but was bought back by Christopher and his wife in the 1980s who set about restoring the 18th century garden.

An immaculate host of the house greeted us as we arrived and told us he was a descendant of Thomas Percy, one of Guy Fawkes’ fellow conspirators,  while his lovely wife served teas in a cosy woodland cafe. Jean and I certainly plan to return to this fascinating home to learn more about its history and fascinating inhabitants on one of its special tours for groups. She is going to mention it to her W.I. group this evening and I hope to tag along with these stalwart women.

Next weekend we will be visiting a group of Ely gardens, including the walled garden at Bishop’s House. I’m looking for inspiration to replant a stretch of garden along my driveway where I lost plants to the frost. The plan so far is to plant a variety of sweet scented roses, with slender irises and alliums. Do you have a favourite garden flower?