I love this path. It’s simple, fun, functional, pragmatic, suits its informal location, uses natural materials and looks really good. It just illustrates too that a garden and its features don’t have to be overthought or over-engineered – they can just do what they set out to do and job done. The materials are hard wearing and won’t move; the large gaps between the sets will be easy to keep weed-free or will provide tiny niches for opportunistic plants that appeal to the eye of the head gardener and are left to do their thing.

It’s not very wide (about 50cm) which is plenty wide enough for one person pushing a wheelbarrow, or a small cluster of adventurers sneaking off in line to see what’s hidden behind the hedge. The lumpiness of the path, created by the form of the ground or from sinking, adds to the sense of adventure, solitude, freedom, escape and mischief. It’s not a style of path for directing people to where you want them to go, this is for enticing the brave off the beaten track.

This is at the wonderful Spetchley Park Gardens in Worcestershire. I visited in May and their peonies were beginning to come out and looked stunning. There are several different gardens to see here, including a few walled gardens and a melon yard; some generously planted boarders, pools and walks. Only 5mins from both junctions 5 and 6 of the M5 – so a lovely and convenient place to visit or to stretch your legs on a journey.