Waterperry Gardens facts for kids
Waterperry Gardens are a garden with a museum in the village of Waterperry near Wheatley east of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.
Beatrix Havergal (1901–1980) established the Waterperry School of Horticulture, a school of horticulture for ladies, that existed there from 1932 until her retirement in 1971. The story of the Waterperry school is told in the book "Waterperry: A Dream Fulfilled" by Ursula Maddy (ISBN: 0863035027). Waterperry estate provided Royal Sovereign Strawberries to Buckingham Palace and the Chelsea Flower Show.
In 1972 the School of Economic Science purchased the Waterperry Estate, including Waterperry Gardens, which it continues to run to generate revenue for the school.
There are eight acres of landscaped ornamental gardens with an alpine garden, formal knot garden, herbaceous borders, riverside walk, rose garden, and water-lily canal. There are also five acres of orchards. The garden has the National Collection of Kabschia saxifrages. Other facilities include a gallery, garden shop, gift shop, museum, plant centre, and tea shop.
The Museum of Rural Life is located in an 18th-century granary building, with displays of implements and tools.
Waterperry Gardens has 5 acres of apple orchards, with a reputation for fine fruits, which supply a host of top hostelries.
The gardens are considered a notable for the broad variety of snowdrops that grow in the spring.
The music video to the song "Yesterday" by artist Natalie Shay was filmed at Waterperry Gardens
Notable alumnae
- Mary Spiller, teacher at the school, presenter of Gardeners Question Time
- Pamela Schwerdt, joint head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
- Valerie Finnis, specialist in alpine plants.
