The gardens at Canons Ashby present a lovely first impression of the estate. Edward Dryden, beginning in 1908, was largely responsible for the development of the gardens as it looks today. He wanted to create an organised landscape of geometric shapes.
There are lots of lovely details in the gardens such as the topiary
and this scarecrow in the vegetable garden.
There were a decent amount of flowers out for early spring which lent a colourful aspect to the gardens.
The gates and gate pillars were particularly striking featuring a lion holding a stave, a representation of the Dryden crest.
The most interesting statue in the garden though is that of a shepherd boy. The Drydens supported Parliament during the English Civil War and this statue represents the shepherd boy who acted as a look out when Cavalier soldiers (supporters of Charles I) came across Roundhead soldiers (supporters of Parliament) being fed by Lady Dryden. There was a fight at the nearby church and though in the end the Roundheads were unharmed, the shepherd boy lost his life and the Drydens erected this statue in his memory.
The grounds also extend quite a distance outside of the gated garden area which means you can get quite close to the resident sheep, but also be mindful that there is a herd of cows in the field as well.
You can find more photos here.
Louise Jayne's Blog 