Les jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac

A totally unexpected find in the rolling hills of the black Perigord were the beautiful and immaculately manicured private gardens of the d'Eyrignac Manor.

Set in the middle of a 500 hectare protected forestry estate, the 10 hectares of formal gardens and living green sculptures were established back in the 17th century on the grounds of a family estate that has been handed down from generation to generation for the past 500 years. The family still actually lives on the estate, and the gardens are now open to the public, with the entry fee largely contributing to the cost of maintenance.

The 5 full time gardeners are kept busy constantly trimming, shaping, mowing, replanting and nurturing new plants in the resident nursery. All the pruning is done by hand with shears, plumblines & rakes, and the 5 gardeners require a full 8 days just to prune the row of hornbeams at the entrance to the gardens!

Alli xxx