Little Ardsley
“Little Ardsley” began as a retirement project in 2018, an ambitious transformation of two bare paddocks into a vibrant, productive, and ever-evolving garden.
Set on a 1.2-hectare property, roughly a quarter of the land has been thoughtfully developed around an existing home, with new additions including garaging, workshops, a driveway, and a pool area.
Little Ardsley
41 Ardsley Lane
Ōpaki, Masterton
Coffee, toilets, wheelchair access
The garden has been created entirely from scratch, a blank canvas that offered both challenge and opportunity. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a dynamic space shaped by experimentation and a passion for native planting.
With slopes, banks, tricky soil conditions, and strong prevailing winds, the landscape has kept Lesley and Ian busy and inspired.
The vision was to create a sustainable and layered garden with large native borders and tree plantings that will thrive on the more difficult terrain. In contrast, flatter areas offer flourishing seasonal produce and flowering borders designed for picking and sharing.
The raised, stacked produce beds, built during lockdown by Ian, add a unique architectural feature and are the productive heart of the garden, enjoyed by family, visitors, and especially our grandchildren.
Little Ardsley leans toward an informal native garden with a country-cottage twist. There’s a relaxed, slightly whimsical feel, with surprises tucked among the foliage.
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Lesley and Ian have aimed to blend function and form, with edibles like citrus, berries, and vegetables alongside colourful border flowers and native species.
They’ve worked with nature rather than against it. Water management was an early priority, with rainwater collected from new outbuildings stored in four large tanks to support the garden’s growth. Learning to plant for the challenges of our exposed, elevated site, particularly the fierce north-westerlies of spring and summer, has shaped many of the plant choices.
Perhaps the greatest delight is seeing how much can be achieved in a relatively short time. The changing seasons bring constant reward, and the peaceful pool and leisure area offer a serene spot to soak in the expansive views toward the Tararuas and surrounding farmland.
Much of the garden has been created on a budget, with plants sourced through nursery sales, seconds, and home-grown from seed or cutting. There’s always something new appearing, sometimes planned, sometimes a happy surprise.
At its heart, Little Ardsley is a place of joy, connection, and growth, shared with family, friends, and anyone who loves to see what can bloom when vision meets persistence.
GALLERY
