The Gardens at Brantwood

An illustrated history, by plant scientist, botanist and horticulturist David Ingram, of the gardens at Brantwood, England – begun by John Ruskin and his cousin Joan Severn and continued today by Sally Beamish.

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In 1872 the most famous cultural critic in Britain moved into a dilapidated cottage in the heart of England's Lake District and swapped his pen for a billhook. John Ruskin's arrival in a landscape already steeped in agricultural history began an evolution that led to the extraordinary gardens at Brantwood today.


Ruskin’s own gardens reflected his empathy with plants and the natural world, as well as his interests in Dante’s poetry and Renaissance painting. His Moorland Garden is one of the very first wilderness gardens, and his Zig-zaggy a surprising allegory of redemption.


Ruskin’s cousin and carer, Joan Severn, created some of the earliest gardens in the naturalistic style of William Robinson.

These fascinating and beautiful gardens were neglected for decades after Severn’s death but have been brought back to life by Sally Beamish.


In this beautifully illustrated and comprehensive guide, eminent plant scientist, botanist and horticulturist David Ingram traces the history of the gardens.