On a very sunny, warm day in March, 40 Friends found their way to this private woodland garden in Chobham.
After driving up the sweeping approach road, lined with daffodils, the house and barn came into view. Friends were greeted by the owners Nick and Lavinia Sealy, a roaring fire, refreshments, and a display of the camellias in flower in the garden. The homemade cakes featured a specially iced fruit cake showing a camellia and the approach road with significant trees.
The homemade cakes featured a specially iced fruit cake showing a camellia and the approach road with significant trees.
A fruit cake with an camellia made of fondant icing
Red camellias on display when the Friends arrived
Camellia flowers on display
Welcome talk
Lavinia gave us a wonderfully illustrated talk on the history and development of the garden since Nick’s father, John, purchased it in 1951.
At the time it was a small holding 16 acres, overlooking the Surrey Hills.
Over the years the brambles and fallen trees were cleared. Sheep were introduced to keep the grass short however it took more time to look after them than mow the grass.
In 1975 Graham Stuart Thomas designed a cohesive garden area behind the house. Cohesive being a mixture of shrubs and perennials so that there is all around interest.
Later on, the drive was moved, again designed by Graham Stuart Thomas.
A woodland garden has been developed in amongst existing trees and now there are over 220 different camellias both spring and autumn flowering.
Many bulbs have also been planted over the years producing a display of snowdrops, cyclamen, crocus and daffodils. Last year many daffodil bulbs were planted along the drive which were in flower.
Camellias at Timber Hill Gardens
Exploring the gardens
Following the talk, we explored the garden in three groups led by Sian, Barbara, and Robbie (three of The Savill Garden guides) who know Timber Hill well. Lavinia and Nick followed in the two buggies.
Despite the camellias flowering early this year there were many to see.
There was an amazing array of colours and forms, and the snakes head fritillary were looking particularly good under the camellia bushes.
We also saw several outstanding trees including a Surrey champion tree Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’.
When one friend heard that in the garden there was a Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’—the camellia from which Chanel extracts camellia oil for their products—she eagerly went to find it and returned with a flower head.
Friends exploring Timber Hill Gardens
Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’
On returning to the barn, Friends admired the display of cut camellia flowers. Conversations flowed as we stood in the warm sunshine before leaving.
Written by Gill Sloan, Joint Event Coordinator
