By Victoria Read with Pete and Rosie

Barewood is a garden many people feel a strong connection to. What first drew you to it, and what made you feel it was the right next chapter for you?

Well I think we can all agree that Barewood is just pure magic! Imbued with love and passion that you can feel from the moment you walk through the gate. We took a leap of faith, knowing from previous experience that taking on an older house and a large garden would require a different level of input, but the impending workload never intimidated us. In all honesty, we didn't know about Barewood until we saw it come to the market and I believe that probably helped not muddy or intimidate our instincts. We viewed it in the middle of winter and immediately felt drawn to it. Fires crackling in the homestead and the bare bones of the garden allowing us to imagine all the possibilities it held. The home and garden that Carolyn and Joe created here is a true extension of themselves as people. Warm, characterful, positive and safe. Barewood presents a perfect platform to allow our interests and strengths to weave together, whilst building a meaningful life together

Carolyn Ferraby’s care and vision are deeply woven into the garden. How have you approached becoming new custodians of such a well-loved place?

We approach the garden with a mindset of custodianship, not ownership. We aim to keep curiosity at the forefront, so we are constantly learning and being surprised; we are looking and listening. We ask a lot of questions, and listen to a lot of people who have a great wealth of experience and knowledge. Carolyn has given us the confidence to be bold in our decision making. Through our enthusiasm to continue with the garden we have received so much support, from Joe and Carolyn themselves and also the wider gardening community. The garden here is a lifetime of work and vision - we really respect that, and are very inspired by that commitment whilst also being enthused and honoured to lead Barewood into the next chapter.

In the time you’ve owned Barewood, what has the garden already taught you?

Working in such a mature garden with plants often older than us is an honour, and a humbling reminder that good things need time to evolve. The garden here did not always look like it does today and sometimes you have to make a huge mess to achieve your goal. There is also only so much you can do to control nature, and in fact working with it is the best path forward for a harmonious collaboration and less hair pulling! We are learning patience, with ourselves and with the pace at which we can achieve our goals. It is only us in the garden, and there is only so much time in a day.

Have there been any moments of surprise or discovery as you’ve begun to live and work with the garden?

Everyday presents an opportunity for discovery. The nature in and around the garden and grounds is alive 24 hours a day, the birds, insects and wildlife bustle around us constantly keeping us company. The bees are wonderful and so busy, this year we were graced with gargantuan white digitalis, 8ft tall majestic towering beauties that held up in the winds. The weather systems can feel extreme sometimes; just a couple of months after we moved in a hail storm ripped through the valley and tore the soft fresh new growth of the hostas to shreds. It was an early reminder that we sit at mercy of mother nature. Another joy we are discovering is the mushrooms! We like to forage and preserve so have been enjoying field mushrooms and birch bolettes, and spotting plenty of other beautiful species for identifying. A really incredible discovery was a basket fungus growing in one of the borders.

Conversely though, we have had some more troubling discoveries, one being fire blight severely affecting the Malus tschonoskii avenue, and we made the difficult decision to remove the avenue. In its place we are establishing a meadow which I am looking forward to punctuating with topiary, but you never know we might change that idea in due course as we watch it evolve.

Are there particular areas, plants, or features that you’ve found yourselves especially drawn to so far?

Personally I am very drawn to the wider landscape that the garden sits within. We have 25 acres here in total surrounding the garden. 4 acres are managed garden and the rest is pasture and woodland. We are lucky to have a hill to walk up and from there we can see the sea to one side and then a fabulous view out to Richmond Brooke station. We like to walk up there with the dogs and watch the light, it's very special. Pete loves the yard and the surrounding land as well, and again we are lucky to have an absolutely stunning historic stable, which I must say does get the creative juices flowing. The veranda that wraps around the house, cascading with wisteria and roses in spring is also quite the sight to behold, and the scent is nothing short of ambrosial!

I'm also very drawn to the potager, it is a full time job in itself but we are learning methods to invigorate the soil and make it a little less labour intensive, with perennial plantings and herbs, as well as rejuvenating the hedging around the space to improve the light.

How do you see Barewood evolving over time, while still honouring its history and character?

As I mentioned above we are very inspired by the land that surrounds the garden; there is so much scope to integrate more of it. The yard and stable are integral in telling the tale of Barewood’s rich history as a working farm so we will be looking to continue tidying up and landscaping that area, that sweeps down from where the meadow is evolving so finding appropriate methods of walling and hedging alongside plantings to integrate the stable will be an interesting autumn/winter project.

We are currently developing some accommodation within the house, and are excited to welcome guests to stay. I often say that the magic is when you stop here, sipping a beverage on the veranda and letting the sounds and scents really captivate you. The dawn chorus is magic, as is the light throughout the day. Reading a book without a time frame on the veranda is a real treat and we can't wait to share that.

Barewood has rejoined the New Zealand Gardens Trust. What does being part of the Trust mean to you at this point in your journey?

It is a badge of honour to be included and we wear it with great pride. Barewood is already a very highly regarded garden in it's own right, but we feel proud to have been awarded 5 stars and to be the stewards that nurtured it to that place over the past year.

What do you hope visitors will experience or take away when they visit Barewood under your care?

Peace, inspiration and a reminder that you can do anything if you have the passion and the ability to be curious, make mistakes, take a few risks and learn. Carolyn began this garden from very little, and she went on to build paradise. We are inspired by that every day. I love showing people the historic photographs of the garden over the years, and feel it's an important part of the story to see that something seemingly huge began from a very humble place, it's just how far you follow your fantasy.

I also hope that they will go in to our little shop and take away lots of lovely keepsakes!