Ashcombe Gardens, Simonsbath: Wild Garden community project
May 7, 2025
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Ashcombe Gardens, Simonsbath: Wild Garden community project
Located in the remote, picturesque area of Simonsbath within the stunning Exmoor National Park, this wholesome community-based project is focusing on bringing a former wild landscape garden back to life.
Survey work in 2001 revealed the existence of a forgotten garden at Ashcombe, Simonsbath. Laid out by the Knight family in the early 1820’s, the gardens were part of a picturesque, designed landscape, that includes White Rock Cottage, the old Schoolhouse and Gardener’s store. John Knight, an agricultural pioneer who was responsible for the reclamation of the barren moorland around Devon and Somerset, helped to plant many of the tree’s you see on Exmoor and mould the landscape into what it’s become today.
The discovery of this area made for an incredible opportunity to reawaken the original garden vision of a wild valley with rocky outcrops, waterfalls, native trees in diversity and exotic species that were available in 1820.
TASKS FOR THE DAY
Today its managed by the Exmoor National Park and a dedicated group of volunteers that have helped clean up a large stretch of the leat and managed vegetation along the stream to recreate vistas and viewpoints. They meet regularly throughout the year to help with the ongoing maintenance programme.
The day started with a briefing from Jackie Kiberd, group leader and representative of the Exmoor National Park team. The jobs for the day included:
- Cutting back of the willow and harvesting some of the cuttings for their onsite tree nursey. The smaller cuttings of willow are used for around streams to help keep the water cool, create habitats for wildlife and preserve the combes.
- Dead heading the hedge in the Cottage Garden, removing the twiggy parts to encourage new growth.
- Protecting some of the newly planted shrubs, bushes and sprouting foliage from wildlife. As you can imagine this remote location gets many fury visitors such as rabbits and deer, but to avoid them harming the new tree saplings and freshly planted areas, chicken wire and non-harmful fencing is used.
- Moving the stumpery that was created under the Beech tree to keep it healthy. Due to the ill health of the tree its now exposed to the sun and would be better in a shaded spot.
- Path preservation and management of any debris or damage due to heavy rain/ wind or general wear and tear.
- Clearing of the gully for water to freely run down and join the river below.
- Rebuild the stone wall by the stream.
With a group of 16 volunteers, everyone upped tools and split into groups to undertake the many tasks for that day. Our Turnstyle volunteers Hannah, from our Marketing department and Tessa from Sales were allocated to tackle the gully clearing.
The long stretch of gully regularly fills with debris such as dead leaves and stones from the bank. It also needed the weeds and raspberry brambles cutting back to mitigate these invasive plants blocking the water flow. Hannah and Tessa quickly got to work with a few other volunteers clearing what they could. With the beautiful Devon sunshine beating down, the team made light work of the task in hand.
The gardens are open to the public and actively promote a natural and immersive experience for all who visit. Local schools visit for educational days and there are future plans to try and involve other group such as disabled children and adults with extra needs and create a sensory trail to follow and explore.
The garden is all about playing with your senses, from the many levels, to meandering pathways, it’s a poetic ode to the landscape, glorifying the natural beauty and wild environment. The team of volunteers take great pride in maintaining this, always offering ideas of how to improve certain areas or create more immersive experiences for everyone to enjoy.
As we walked some of the pathways Jackie pointed out freshly sprouting bluebells and shoots from their apple trees. She also explained all the areas and projects that are constantly being maintained and managed, keeping this garden alive and thriving.
“I had a great day working alongside Jackie and the dedicated group of volunteers, who were all very welcoming. We were lucky to have beautiful sunshine, which made the whole day even more enjoyable. My task for the day was trimming back unwanted foliage to stop it encroaching on the nearby stream, whilst other volunteers focused on digging out and clearly the debris. To top the day off, we were treated some delicious homemade cake during a lunch break. It felt great to be outside and contribute to the upkeep of this fantastic project within our local area."
As the team work, they learn from the landscape. Due to the ever-changing climate, trials of different species are planted like Cockspur, a tree normally native to America, but so far is thriving well due to the rise in temperatures we now have. Regular checks are done by river health expert Clive, to make sure the smallest of insects and invertebrates are considered before any maintenance it done.
The team are made up of regular visitors to the project, many who are retired and want to keep themselves busy and moving. Many expressed how this was not only great for their physical health but socially for their mental wellbeing as well.
‘A huge thanks to Tessa and Hannah who made light work of getting to grips (literally) with the wild raspberries starting to run amok in the meadow at Ashcombe. We’re always happy to forge relationships with socially responsible companies like Turnstyle Designs and welcome staff on any of volunteer days on Exmoor. Hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature - it’s a heady mix that’s great for your wellbeing and for the environment too. Don’t just take my word for it, give it a go yourself.’
The day was a fantastic amalgamation of education and hard work, all for a wonderfully worthy, humbling cause. We can’t wait to return and discover even more about the incredible efforts the team have made to the garden progress.
As Jackie stated on the day, “there is always a job to do somewhere!” We hope to return soon with more eager volunteers!
“Ashcombe Garden is part of Exmoor Pioneers and is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to enrich nature, conserve heritage, develop skills needed to look after Exmoor, and connect people to the former Royal Forest of Exmoor.”
#NationalLottery #HeritageFund #ExmoorNationalPark
VISIT THE GARDENS OR GET INVOLVED
If you’d like to visit the beautiful wild garden of Ashcombe or join the team and their fantastic efforts, follow the google maps and website links below:
HISTORY OF SIMONSBATH, EXMOOR
There are 15 National Parks in the UK and each one has been designated as a protected landscape because of its special qualities. Each National Park is different and remarkable in its own way, but all work together as part of one big family.
Sitting 325 meters above sea level, Simonsbath is a small village in the heart of what was once the royal forest of Exmoor. Royal forests were not necessarily wooded but were areas where game animals such as deer were reserved for hunting and for the table of the King.
In 1820, Simonsbath and its surroundings were developed by John Knight who came to Exmoor from Worcestershire and bought up much of the old forest. The Knight family were wealthy industrialists and tried to fashion a grand estate out of the wild, uninhabited moorland.
But amid dwindling finances and his wife’s ill health, the full scope of the venture was never realised, leaving the beginnings of a mansion and a secret picturesque garden, unfinished, the traces of which you can see at Ashcombe Gardens.
