Welcome to what, up until earlier on this century, was one of England’s most hidden and private gardens. Private it still remains but now it is shared more widely than ever before with visitors coming from all over the world to see one of the most remarkable and inspirational gardens in England.

The Laskett, set in the idyllic countryside of Herefordshire on the Welsh borders, are the creation of Sir Roy Strong CH and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman CBE. The gardens – created from a bare field – were begun in 1974 and have continued to evolve ever since. They are the creative fruit of a happy marriage between two people who were at the centre of the arts for much of the latter half of the twentieth century. That story is uniquely etched into the gardens evoking friendships and associations with people as diverse as the photographer and designer, Sir Cecil Beaton, and the choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton as well recalling artists such as John Piper and Ian Hamilton Finlay. Nor should the visitor ever forget that this is kingdom of the cat from the Lady Torte de Shell down to today’s Lettice and Perkins. All are lovingly celebrated and remembered in this four acre patch of Herefordshire soil.