Bohemia Village Voice

Chelwood - a Clarence Road garden thrown open to the public to raise funds for St Michaels Hospice.

Upper Clarence Road seems an unlikely place to attract sightseers, but on 29th April, as part of the St. Michael’s Hospice Open Gardens scheme, visitors were streaming in to view the hillside garden of Chelwood, the home of John and Carolyn Markson-Brown.
It was an eye-opener to see what lay between the houses in Upper Clarence Road and Alexandra Park. John and Carolyn’s garden lies on a surprisingly steep hillside, and they have made the most of the different levels. Narrow paths lead invitingly from one garden area to the next, each with its individual character.
John, who does teacher training, and Carolyn, who runs her own homeopathic business, have lived at Chelwood for 1½ years. This is the first time that they have opened their garden to the public, though Carolyn said that her parents used to open their garden in Cowden, Kent, for the St Michael’s Hospice scheme.
Speaking in the early afternoon, John estimated, “We have had about fifty people already. It hasn’t stopped since we opened at 10.30, despite the rain and hail!”
The previous owner of the house, Harold Norton, their second visitor, kindly named one of the plants.
“It gives me tremendous pleasure to be outside and to work with plants,” said Carolyn. She explained, “It’s about bringing out the potential of the garden and listening to what it wants, rather than imposing an order on it.”
 John said, “I love garden design and the challenge of getting things right, and tending the plants. We think and ask what is required in each place, and don’t rush into it. The garden is totally organic. We don’t use any weedkillers whatsoever.” Being so close to the Park, their garden is often visited by wild creatures who appreciate the natural approach.
“I didn’t know what the badger was going to do last night!” said Carolyn. “This morning we found he had squashed the amaryllis!”  While the Voice was interviewing the couple, one of the visitors said, “Lovely tulips – almost as good as Pashley Manor!”    

Group photo caption in full: John Markson-Brown, garden owner, with, (L-R) Celia Pyke-Lees (chief executive, St Michael’s Hospice), Carolyn Markson-Brown, (garden owner) and Perdita Chamberlain, (head of fundraising, St Michael’s Hospice).

John Markson-Brown, with, (L-R) Celia Pyke-Lees, Carolyn Markson-Brown, and Perdita Chamberlain.

A chance to unwind

And all for a good cause