Hunting Brook featured on BBC Gardeners World
We're delighted to see Hunting Brook, one of our members gardens, featured on BBC's Gardeners' World.
Bellefield House is listed as one of Ireland’s ten Best Gardens.
In 2004, architect and garden designer Angela Jupe bought a beautiful but run-down Georgian farmhouse with some land in Co. Offaly. Tumbledown stone stables and bramble infested gardens have now become a haven for gardeners, painters and holidaymakers alike.
Two acres of walled gardens built of local Tipperary sandstone have been restored, a woodland area planted with spring bulbs and more recently a 30m long rill and pond has been added to the glasshouse garden. But work is still on-going!! Angela’s obsession with plants has led to the gardens holding one of the largest snowdrop collections in Ireland, heritage and rare daffodils, species and Chinese peonies, colourful iris, old French roses and unusual old fruit trees.
A passion for using old and salvaged materials has created the Eastern style Fern Folly, the Neptune Glasshouse, and the dramatic water feature while the cart-house, stables and gate-lodge offer stress free holidays in individually decorated cottages. Special events are held in the large coach-house.
Set within the courtyard and at the entrance to an 18th century Georgian farmhouse, Bellefield cottages are converted from the the farm and stable buildings of a former stud where a number of Grand National winners were bred in the 1950's. Comfortable, bright and spacious, the holiday cottages have been created from the old stables and gate-lodge, each with its own garden and access to the main gardens. These sleep from 2 to 4 persons and are available to rent throughout the year.
Visitors are welcome to visit and sit in the beautifully restored walled garden and avail of seasonal produce including fruit, vegetables and herbs.
Catering can be arranged for visiting groups of 10 or more. Food for events and open days is often produce from the garden catered by Sarah Webb of the Gallic Kitchen.
The garden too can provide a beautiful location for birthday or anniversary parties.
The gardens are open for viewing 11.00 am to 17.00 pm from April to October each year.
Angela Jupe
Bellefield House and Gardens,
Shinrone,
Birr,
Co. Offaly
Mobile:+353866002180
Located in the heart of Ireland, midway between Birr with its famous castle and gardens and Roscrea with its unique monastic heritage, Bellefield is easily accessible from the M6 and M7. It is close to the inspiring nature park of Lough Boora Bog and the largest of the Shannon lakes, Lough Derg.