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Compton Acres is a series of interesting themed gardens situated between Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset.

It was created in the 1920's out of wild heathland which surrounded an existing small mansion. Over many years, wealthy businessman Thomas Simpson worked with his loyal Head Gardener Albert Middleton to create a perfect horticultural retreat.

Mr Simpson is seen here on the right but does anyone know who the others are? If so, please get in contact with us.

 

 

 

Mr Middleton is seen here (on the left of the picture) at Menton in France. We know he was sent by Mr Simpson to study gardens in other countries such as Germany and Japan.

We already know certain facts about these gentlemen and we have had discussions with some of their relations. Mr Simpson and Mr Middleton had a long association - they worked together before WW1, and they died within a year of each other just after WW2.

Compton Acres is a relatively young garden but already much of its horticultural history has faded. Few written records have been discovered so far but we are doing our best to locate and preserve what we can. Research has taken us in many directions and we hope that someone reading these pages will be able to increase our knowlege about a fine gardening treasure.

 

 

Compton Acres has changed hands a number of times since it was created - yet against the odds, it remains in private ownership.

The shot to the right shows how the Italian Garden looked in February 2003 - desolate. Some of the flower beds were riddled with disease and the infected soil had to be removed.

The rhododendrons on the banks were completely overgrown and had to be pruned hard. The pool needed repairs in several places and pipework in the fountain had to be renewed. The pathways had been worn down by the feet of many thousands of visitors and had to be resurfaced. Finally, lighting was added to create a dramatic new element in the evenings.

The new team of gardeners were only half in number to their predecessors in Compton Acres' heydey and they had to work on all of the gardens. It seems amazing therefore, that just eight months after the previous photo was taken the picture to the right was captured.

 

This garden has continued to evolve since 2003 and it is now overlooked by the splendid Italian Villa - a superb venue for weddings, conferences etc.

Versatility is key to the survival of many attractions now to help maximise visitor numbers.

Urban densification is accelerating and over the coming years many domestic gardens will shrink or disappear altogether. Green spaces like Compton Acres will become increasingly important as a place for people to escape to. It is vital that such attractions survive.

The Wooded Valley at Compton Acres

The Rock Garden

 

The morning sun in the Water Garden

 

Chris Allen former curator of Compton Acres being Interviewed.

Walter 'Bill' Collings was employed at Compton Acres for a quarter of a century. For 23 of those years he was the head gardener.

Staff past and present have contributed to the making of this video record and members of the public have kindly offered photographs and anecdotes.

However, we are still seeking more images of the gardens, of staff and former owners (particularly from the 1920s and 1930's). If you have any photos documents or anecdotes we would love to hear from you!

 

 

Gardeners Ewen Smith (left) Joseph Coogan (right), and (centre) advisor Peter Thoday - former Horticultural Director at the Eden Project.

 

Garden consultants, Peter Thoday and Mary Payne, help to revive the garden.

During 2007 progress has continued at Compton Acres and much hard landscaping has already been completed.

Overgrown trees have been thinned or removed where necessary and the extra light will aid planting schemes over the coming seasons.

 

 

Ben Turner joined the garden's team in January 2008 as Head Gardener.

Ben has a BSc (Honours) degree in Horticulture from Writtle College. In 2006 he won the Institute of Horticulture's Young Horticulturist of the Year competition which took place at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

He is a passionate and hard working horticulturist who has visited Compton Acres since he was a young boy, having grown up locally.

 

 

06th May 2008. Planting a Wollemia nobilis - thought to be extinct until recent times. Professor Carrick Chambers of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney described the discovery of these living plants as “the equivalent of finding a small dinosaur still alive on earth.”

Left to to right -

Ben Turner Head Gardener, Kim Auston English Heritage Landscape Architect (Western Territory), Mary Payne MBE, Phillip Hilliar architect, Bernard Merna - owner, Peter Thoday.