The homeowner who’s inviting the world to see his handiwork

IAN Webb, who lives at Beechwood House in Crouchley Lane, Lymm, is throwing open his gates to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) charity programme.

On Sunday, June 29, visitors can explore Ian’s two and a half acre garden, hen house and tea room.

In the last decade, NGS has donated more than £22million to charity, including more than £14 million to Macmillan Cancer Support and more than £6 million to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Ian tells Weekend what visitors can expect.

Describe the garden...

Our garden is a mixture of all themes. It has deep herbaceous borders, a topiary garden, a woodland area with tree ferns, hellibores and ferns, an orchard and a wildflower meadow.

The meadow has naturally self-seeded and developed over time. Each year I sow pure wildflower seed into a teardrop shape in the middle which produces a breathtaking blaze of yellow, pink and blue.

We also have chickens and a few years ago we built a new hen house for them. It is based on the one that Prince Charles has at Highgrove.

It is constructed out of oak and has a very steep pitched roof tiled in reclaimed rosemary tiles.

The oak has aged over time and is now a beautiful silver grey and looks like it has been there for many years.

Last year I built a ‘cleft chestnut’ style fence in front of the hen house so I can keep the chickens out of the meadow.

What are your plans for the garden?

We have added something each year since we have lived here. It might be a bed that has been made deeper or an arch. Our plan is to develop it as ideas come along.

When we open for NGS gardens we transform our oak framed garage into a tea room seating 60. Tables and chairs are borrowed from the community centre, buntings are put up and my wife serves up homemade cakes and teas.

It makes for a really great atmosphere, especially if the sun shines.

How did you get into gardening?

It was a case of wherever we have lived the garden needed to be looked after so it was a natural progression into what we now have.

What is your favourite feature and why?

That is a tough question. I get enormous pleasure in watching the wildflower meadow grow and flower each spring and looking at the insects and butterflies attracted to it.

We also enjoy just sitting in the ‘purple palace’ with a cup of tea listening to and watching the birds.

Why do you enjoy gardening?

I find it relaxing and a distraction from work and it really helps to keep me fit.

Have you suffered any garden catastrophes?

Just the usual. Putting plants where they don’t want to grow and sadly, a lot of our box is developing ‘box blight’ and will have to be removed.

Top tips for gardeners?

Recycling your garden waste and seeing it turn into good compost and mulch is very satisfying.

Plant in fives and sevens to give maximum impact. Sow some wildflower seeds for next year’s bees.

* Beechwood Cottage at 64 Crouchley Lane, Lymm, is open to the public on Sunday, June 29, 11am to 5pm. Admission is £4 or free to children and includes homemade teas.