Greenway garden

Deck chairs in the Walled Garden at Greenway, Devon

From walled gardens to riverside woodland, the informal garden at Greenway is very relaxed and tranquil. There are hidden gems to discover, views to admire and places to relax. Why not find out about the different areas to explore?

 

The Walled Gardens

Glasshouses in the Walled Garden at Greenway, Devon

The Peach House and nurseries

It's a mix of industry and leisure in the gardens, with a working nursery and a restored Peach House, one of the longest in Devon coming in at 120ft long. There are a number of different varieties of peaches, apricots and nectarines grown here, and they're used in the cafe for seasonal recipes.

The allotment in the Walled Garden at Greenway

The South Walled Garden

To the right of the industrial gardens lies the Vinery and allotment, which thrive in the shelter provided by the high walls. It's home to soft borders where hydrangeas flower in summer, a large lawn to relax on with picnic benches perfect for alfresco lunches, and relaxed seating in the gazebo. The allotment is maintained by the local village primary school, a long standing tradition started by Agatha Christie.

Giraffe at Paignton Zoo eating leaves and twigs from the garden at Greenway

From field to fork 

Paignton Zoo and the garden team at Greenway have joined forces to help feed some of the zoo's animals and reduce the garden waste from Agatha Christie's former holiday home in this new sustainable project. Find out more about how we're working with the keepers and gardeners from the Wild Planet Trust.

 

Clock Golf

A sunny lawn tucked behind the walled gardens is named Clock Golf after the game Agatha and her family would play there. To one side of it is a grass border, to the other side of Clock Golf is the Dahlia border, and just behind is a swathe of towering trees. 

 

The Fernery

One of the most magical areas at Greenway is the fernery behind the walled gardens and just along from the Dahlia border. Dappled light and shade fall upon the fronds and the central water fountain creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. One of the more quirky aspects to the fernery is the dog cemetery, where Agatha's dogs are buried.

 

Picnics

Whether you pick up something to go from the Barn Cafe and Tack Room, or bring your own hamper, there's plenty of spots to picnic in the garden. 

In the South Walled Garden there's a large grassy lawn ideal for relaxing on blankets, and picnic benches dotted around too. If you need some cover, the wooden bandstand or inside the Vinery are good choices too, and at the front of the house you can soak up the views of the river from a deckchair. 

River views

View of the Dart Estuary downstream from Greenway, Devon, which was the holiday home of the crime writer Agatha Christie

Top Garden

A stroll to the top garden rewards you with a gorgeous summer border. Year-round this part of the garden is the place to go to see one of the best views over the river; stand by the fence to the field at the edge of the garden to admire the River Dart down to Dartmouth.

View from the Battery beside the River Dart at Greenway

The Battery and Boathouse

A walk around the garden isn't complete without visiting the Battery on the waters edge, which was built as a Napoleonic defence in the 1790s. Just along from there is the Boathouse, which was the scene of the crime in the Poirot mystery Dead Man's Folly. While the Boathouse is currently closed, you can still enjoy the views of the river from the foreshore and potentially spot some of Greenway's river dwelling neighbours.

The Bird Pond in the garden at Greenway, Devon

Agatha Christie's collections

Agatha and her family were great collectors, and that extended to the outdoors too. Nestled carefully amongst the natural landscape you'll find sculptures and statues, like the bronze Kwan Yin and the Greenway bird.

Questions about the garden?

You could drop the garden team an email if you have any questions about Greenway garden, or would even like some advice about your own patch.