The Walled Garden at Charleston in a Catherine Walker Dress

Charleston Apple

Charleston 2

Charleston 4

Charleston Dah

Charleston Bench

Charleston 7

Charleston farmhouse is situated in the South Downs in Sussex and was the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant from 1916 until 1978, as well as being the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury group.The walled garden at Charleston was created by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant to the designs of the artist Roger Fry.  The small garden slopes down from the side of the house, and as you enter, you become quickly immersed in the dense planting of the garden.  At every turn of the narrow gravel path, there is something to delight the senses, a small classical sculpture, a mosaic pavement, a vibrant bed of Dahlias, a tile edged pool, a fruiting apple tree, each drawing you further into the garden.What I love most about this garden is the combination of colours and and the discovery of the unexpected as you wander through.  It really does feel as though it has been created by artists, with every element carefully planned, and each vista a work of art in itself.Dress: Vintage Catherine Walker; Shoes: Vintage Carvela at Kurt GeigerPhotographed at CharlestonPhotography: Sarah Bray