Welcome Our New Shetland Sheep!

We’re excited to introduce a new addition to the Caisson Garden family—a small flock of purebred Shetland sheep! After years of borrowing sheep from local farmers, we decided it was time to raise a hardy, heritage flock of our own, and the Shetland sheep, with their small size, resilience, and excellent health, were the perfect fit. So welcome to Toffee Apple, Ravishing, Relish, Regina, Boleyn, Hughina, and Meridien

Why Shetland Sheep? Originating from the rugged Shetland Islands, these sheep are renowned for their toughness. They’re a “primitive” or landrace breed, meaning they’ve stayed close to their natural state without extensive modern breeding, unlike many commercial sheep breeds. They’ve adapted to thrive in wild, challenging environments, from coastal hillsides to open meadows.

Our Sheep and Wildflower Meadows This winter, the Shetland’s will graze in our paddocks. Their grazing plays a key role in maintaining and rejuvenating our wildflower meadows, helping to control grass and encourage the diversity of wildflowers. This is crucial for both the health of our land and local wildlife.

Inspiration at Birch Farm with Joshua Sparkes

This September, we visited Birch Farm in Woolsery, Devon and spent time with Joshua Sparkes, the visionary head gardener who has transformed the 15-acre market garden into an innovative, thriving ecosystem. His approach to gardening has redefined traditional practices, integrating principles from agroforestry, Korean Natural Farming, and biodynamic systems to nurture a balanced and resilient landscape.

Since we came to Caisson 15 years ago, we have been practising regenerative gardening. We do not use chemicals and artificial fertilisers, make our own compost, and manage our fields to create wildflower meadows and woodlands to promote natural regeneration and habitat quality. After seeing Birch Farm’s success, we’re inspired to bring more of Joshua’s methods to Caisson Gardens.

Joshua’s philosophy centres on creating a low-input, low-maintenance environment that prioritises natural ecosystems and biodiversity. His methods combine ideas from Japanese natural farming, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture to make the most of the resources on his land. Joshua’s ability to blend these approaches to promote a self-sustaining landscape struck a chord with us. We sent our gardener, Tristan, to one of Joshua’s courses, and he returned eager to put these ideas into practice at Caisson Gardens.

Bringing Natural Farming Techniques to Caisson Gardens

One of the most exciting aspects we’ll be introducing is a natural, plant-based system inspired by Korean Natural Farming. This method allows us to create our own plant-based inoculants by gathering resources directly from our garden. These inoculants, when applied as sprays, root drenches, or seed soaks, will provide our crops with essential nutrients without the need for synthetic fertilizers or chemical sprays. In the process, we’re also boosting the health of our soil, supporting a rich, natural ecosystem right here at Caisson Gardens.

We’re also experimenting with homemade ferments and tinctures that support soil and plant health. These solutions, made from local plant samples, help to introduce beneficial bacteria, fungi, and yeasts back into the soil, improving its resilience and fertility.

Supporting Biodiversity with Beetle-Friendly Habitats

Experimenting with Agroforestry

Following Joshua’s lead, we’re also exploring ways to integrate more agroforestry—a system where edible crops are grown among trees and shrubs—into Caisson Gardens. This low-maintenance, sustainable approach will allow us to expand the variety of crops we grow while enriching the garden’s natural biodiversity.

Each of these changes brings Caisson Gardens even closer to becoming a regenerative, biodiverse environment. We’re excited to explore these methods and to share our progress as we adopt more of Joshua’s innovative approaches. 

Find out more about The Collective at Woolsery

New Creative Art Workshops at Caisson Gardens Studio

We have an exciting lineup of creative art workshops for Autumn and Winter 2024. To guarantee ample space and personalised attention for each participant, places are limited. No prior experience is necessary (we believe everyone has artistic talent!), and we supply all the materials you’ll require.

We invite all aspiring and experienced artists to embark on a creative journey with us, where the beauty of nature and botanical wonders serve as our inspiration.

See all Autumn/Winter Workshops

Celebrating a Successful Summer of Art Workshops at Caisson Gardens

This summer has been a resounding success for our art workshops at Caisson Gardens, where creativity blossomed alongside our vibrant gardens. We offered a variety of workshops that allowed participants of all ages to explore the beauty of nature through the lens of art, and the results were nothing short of inspiring.

Children’s Workshop: Styrofoam Lino and Mono Printing

Our children’s workshop, led by the incredibly talented Alexandra Hucks from @the_art_room_bath, introduced young artists to the world of styrofoam lino and mono printing. Over the two-day workshop, the children were inspired by the enchanting woodlands and gardens at Caisson House, exploring drawing, collage, and printmaking techniques. They had the opportunity to create imaginative artworks inspired by the plants, flowers and the stunning surrounding landscape resulting in truly delightful creations.

Sweet Pea Workshop: Art from the Garden

Another highlight of the summer was our ‘Art from the Garden’ workshop, centred around the stunning sweet pea. Participants who were led by professional gardener and artist Jacky Mills spent a day immersed in the delicate beauty and fragrance of our favourite annuals, learning to capture their essence on paper. In an intimate group of just 12, attendees engaged in warm-up exercises, contour drawings, and discussions on composition and sweet pea morphology. With freshly cut flowers provided for reference and guidance from Jacky—who has an impressive background with The Botanical Sketch Club and frequent contributions to Gardens Illustrated— the workshop was highly successful, cultivating both artistic skills and botanical knowledge.

Children’s Summer Art Workshop: Exploring Nature through Large-Scale Drawing and Painting

We also hosted a large-scale drawing and painting workshop for children, focusing on the enchanting world of butterflies, beetles, and natural forms. Under the guidance of Alexandra Hucks, participants explored shape and form, working from observation to create vibrant compositions using ink and watercolours. Like our other workshops, this two-day session took place in our new Studio space, with a spirit of exploration encouraged as children roamed the gardens for inspiration.

We have a wonderful program of Autumn and Winter art workshops planned.  Places are limited to ensure there is plenty of space and attention for everyone.  You don’t need any previous experience (and we think everyone has a talent for art!) and we provide all the materials you will need.

So we encourage all you budding and seasoned artists to join us again for new adventures in creativity, where nature continues to inspire.

See all Autumn/Winter Workshops

Only the Front Cover!

Caisson Gardens has been a labour of love for Phil and me since we came here 14 years ago. We weren’t daunted by the immense task before us, in fact, we were excited to embark on the transformation of what was once a neglected garden into the serene and natural landscape that it now is.

It appears we are not alone in thinking it was all worthwhile; we have been fortunate to receive remarkable press attention in prestigious outlets such as Gardens Illustrated in May, where we were thrilled to be featured on the front cover! Bath Magazine and Bath Life have also featured our gardens this year.

It is heartening to get such encouraging feedback; there were times, in the last 14 years, when we have been knee-deep in mud and battling brambles, when the final result seemed a long way away.  However, we held on to our vision and stayed true to our ethos. We hope that, for those who visited our gardens this summer, you shared the same sentiments as Karen Chapman did…

“Our visit that day left us all feeling nourished at a deep level, inspired to try new ideas in our own gardens, and encouraged that such beauty still exists in our fragile world.”

Karen Chapman Le Jardinet Designs

Thanks, Karen, we couldn’t have put it better ourselves!

Caisson Garden Gates are Open

Summer 2024 has been an exciting time for everyone at Caisson Gardens. We proudly opened the gardens to the public for the first time, after years of dedication and hard work to create what we believe to be a unique and natural garden that is a feast for the senses.

We want to express our profound gratitude to all our marvellous visitors who added life to our lush gardens. Your enthusiasm and presence has been uplifting and we truly value each one of you, it’s been an absolute pleasure sharing the tranquil beauty with so many.

We’ve had some wonderful feedback from many of you, not least about the various serene seating areas scattered amongst the gardens, and we’re thrilled to know you enjoyed them. The beautiful sculptural semi-circular stone bench is a perfect place to pause and take in the view across the orchard. As one visitor commented, while resting her tired feet… “It’s achingly beautiful”.

It appears that the gardens were not the only highlight this summer, many of you also enjoyed our delightful homemade cakes, all while being watched over by our charming alpaca family! These sweet moments added to the overall experience and created delightful memories.

Arrival of our Alpaca Wool

Our little family of alpacas have their fleeces clipped once a year in the late spring to keep them feeling cool and comfortable for the summer months.

Their soft wool has been expertly spun into yarn that now returns to us as bundles of warmth.

As the winter chill sets in, we are dreaming of being wrapped up in a hand knitted cosy jumper.

As you can see Jasper looks so cuddly with his grade A fur coat!

Hibernating Ladybirds

Every year we put loads of Poppies on the avenue to Combe Hay Village to commemorate remembrance Sunday with particular memory of a young serviceman killed in Afghanistan on active service who was born and raised in the village. I was thrilled to find, when removing the poppies, hundreds of ladybirds had taken up residence along the railings to hibernate for the winter.

Forcing bulbs

The joy of watching bulbs grow roots is a fascinating experience. There’s something touching about seeing every step of growth. Their delicate white roots, the first signs of green shoots; it’s wonderfully uplifting in the dark days of winter.

“It is extraordinary just how much they grow each day.”

Phil Honey

Bulb planting in Autumn

In preparation for our planned 2024 garden open days, we have been very busy dodging the rain and furiously planting thousands of perennial and species bulbs. Our main interest is around planting bulbs to grow and flower in grassland areas. This connects with our regenerative successional planting approach giving a wonderful January to May layered affect.

“It’s that wonderful feeling of planting something that will make the garden burst into life in spring.”

Amanda Honey