Luther Burbank

Walt Whitman

We enjoyed lunch and an afternoon walk around Winterbourne Gardens. For some reason the gate to the reservoir was closed leaving us slightly dissapointed.

Billy Knights, a retired farmer began designing and creating the Water Gardens in 1970 in his 70th year. The site was a damp meadow which became too wet for cattle to graze.

Mr Knights’s son jokingly suggested he should have a water garden, which prompted him to draw out plans (on the back of a piece of wallpaper) and he soon had machines in, digging out the ponds and waterways.

He worked on his garden with love and enthusiasm until he died aged 93. For over 20 years the gardens had been open to the public.

Both Billy and his wife Florence loved their gardens and sharing them with others. With this in mind and as a tribute to her parents Coral began restoration in April 2002. Having been unattended and closed for five years the gardens had become quiet derelict.

However, they were re-opened again in June 2003, with a new car park, refurbished tearoom/gallery, a toilet for disabled people and an 8 acre Natural Trail.

There has since been the planting of native shrubs and trees around the East Pond, the addition of a bird hide, bamboo grove, scented arbour, rustic roundhouse, stumpery and plant sales. *

* Information from the water gardens website

Blaise Pascal