Living in the crowded southern part of England, you get used to the noisy hum of daily life. Trains rattle across level crossings, buses toot, seagulls scream and cars swish along the bypass.
But peace and quiet can be found, if you know the right garden, like RHS Wisley.
Leaving the M25 in Surrey we joined the rest of humanity hurtling up and down the A3. One small slip road later and we were in the middle of a wood, with birdsong, rustling leaves and the threat of gently pattering rain (this is summer in England after all).
RHS Wisley is just a gnat’s whisker away from that busy main road, but once inside you won’t hear a thing, unless you head for the delicate dandelion sculpture on the brow of hydrangea-covered Battleston Hill.
There the hum of traffic assails your ears, but drop back down and the stillness envelops you once again.
And it is remarkably restful, despite its popularity, with benches and alcoves around almost every corner and picnic tables under the spreading trees.
Nature in all her glory
While Pork Belly became engrossed in photography I had leisure to eavesdrop (one of my favourite pastimes) on chattering children, patient parents and the occasional group tour.
I particularly enjoyed the gentle murmurings of gardening experts, their conversations interlaced with Latin names and vigorous discussions on mulch and natural pest control.
The gardens at Wisley were originally created by George Fergusson Wilson, a businessman, scientist, inventor and keen gardener.
His vision was of an experimental place where he could “grow difficult plants successfully”.
On his death the estate was bought by a wealthy Quaker, Sir Thomas Hanbury, who generously gifted it to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903 allowing them to expand from their already overcrowded headquarters in Chiswick.
The gardens today remain true to the ethos of rising to horticultural challenges. Down in the Trial Field, they’re experimenting with hanging baskets to attract bees.
In the orchard greenhouse melons are grown upright with the fruits ripening in low-slung hammocks.
Whilst in the magnificent glasshouse, a vertical wall packed with greenery and tiny fuchsias shows what can be done to green the most urban of places.
At every step there are clear signs; academic ones packed with Latin names but also information in ordinary language offering ideas for your own gardens and hints and tips on what varieties to plant and how best to care for them.
Educational and fun
Tall, soft grasses are waiting for tiny hands to brush through them, while the ripe fruits in the orchard gardens are a real temptation.
Huge sunflowers tower overhead, while the scents from the beautiful blooms in the Bowes-Lyon rose garden simply beg you to bury your nose in them.
And every year there’s the added bonus of the Surrey Sculpture Society’s trail of outdoor artwork by established and emerging local artists – an intriguing collection of delightful and sometimes just plain weird installations.
We liked the recycled T Rex, loved Airheart – a canine tribute to the brave spirit of aviator Amelia – and the humour of Talking Cobblers.
Martin sculpture
But we were really there to see pieces by two talented sculptors in my family; a wise old owl and cheeky robin by Abby Martin and a restful ginger cat, the work of Abby’s mother, Teresa.
Judging by the comments we overheard, they were high on other visitors’ lists of favourites too, with the cat getting many strokes and even kisses from one cute toddler.
With a whole day at our disposal, we still couldn’t see it all, especially as we took regular refreshment stops along the way.
The food is slightly on the expensive side but good quality, using many of the vegetables, fruits and herbs grown on site.
We couldn’t miss the huge glasshouse, celebrating its 10th anniversary, where exotic and rare plants thrive and tower overhead.
The tropical section is a blaze of colour almost all year round as different species come into bloom.
Spreading over 240 acres, Wisley doesn’t feel crowded even on a busy summer Sunday.
And you can always escape your fellow human beings by taking a stroll to the Pinetum, a cathedral-like collection of towering mature trees.
Or discover carpets of cyclamen and rare heathers in Howard’s Field.
Just don’t leave it too late in the day – Pork Belly became so entranced by the blooms under the spreading canopy, we nearly got shut in for the night!
More information about RHS Wisley
You’ll find RHS Garden Wisley between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey, off the A3 London to Portsmouth road just south of Junction 10 on the M25.
• RHS Wisley website
For information on the sculptures, visit Surrey Sculpture Society
Where to next?
• Secret Gardens of London
• East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens
• Lost Gardens of Heligan