The Story

I was fifteen when I fell in love with plants and gardens. After studying horticulture at college I set up my own professional landscaping business, winning several awards for garden design. Yet I still held a deeper yearning to develop a garden where I could share my passion with others.

In 2006 I discovered this magnificent example of a Victorian walled kitchen garden, which although derelict and in desperate need of repair and restoration, filled me with excitement. As I walked around I was overwhelmed by the beauty and mystery of the site, from its formidable walls to the broken down and overgrown Victorian glasshouses. I instantly wanted to explore further. It was like walking back in time.

A few of us got together, developed an idea and put it forward to the landowner and won a long-term lease. Around a dining room table we came up with the idea of a space of beauty, a place of ‘good medicine’, where people from the local community could come and be inspired, relax, play and take some ‘good medicine’ home with them.

You are very welcome.

The seed of an idea

Paul Studholmefounder of The Medicine Garden

Dating back to circa 1850, Cobham Park Gardens was originally built by Young Harvey Combe. It was the kitchen garden to Cobham Park, owned by the Combe family – founders of the London based Combe Brewery. In its heyday there would have been an army of staff meticulously tending the two acres of fruit and vegetables in the main garden, as well as the impressive Vine House and over a dozen other glasshouses.

Incredibly the history of selling plants from this site dates back to at least 1793, over 200 years ago, making ours likely to be the oldest garden shop in the country. At that time a single building called The Old Garden House stood on the site.

History

Since winning the lease, we have continued an extensive and sympathetic restoration of the entire site. The buildings and grounds have been painstakingly and lovingly renovated to allow new life to be breathed back in.

The entire site was overgrown with weeds and plants. The buildings, including the Head Gardener’s Cottage, were full of junk and falling apart. The walls were covered in ivy and quite damaged in some areas.

Bringing it back to life

It has taken six patient years to get it to the stage it is now, which is still far from finished. We have cleared the main garden, created a car park, repaired some of the walls and carried out extensive work on the back sheds. This included new roofs, floors, insulation, electrics, plumbing, drains and new windows. We have also built public toilets and re-surfaced the courtyard, garden path and car park areas.

Even though we are still in the early stages of our plans and visions for the garden, we opened to the public for the first time in its history on 16 June 2010. It was a very exciting time. We felt we would learn much more by working in partnership with the local community. Together we could watch the garden grow and all feel a part of shaping its future.

Since opening, we have held several successful events, all very well attended and enjoyable with a great atmosphere, bringing many new visitors to the garden along with our existing loyal friends.

As well as Halloween celebrations, we have had summer garden parties, Jazz on the lawn, outdoor aerial theatre and Christmas fairs. Events for 2012 and beyond are already in the pipeline.

Opening to the public

rebuild and re-energise a Victorian walled kitchen garden as a 21st century destination zone for the local community – including a landscaped garden, café and garden shop

develop a seasonal garden that inspires all who visit

establish a vibrant community of small businesses to help make the whole project a sustainable and exciting place to work.

Five minutes walk from the centre of Cobham village, The Medicine Garden is an innovative project that aims to:

What’s at The Medicine Garden?

The Hothouse Café

Located in the newly restored hothouse our family run eatery offers fresh, home cooked dishes and delicious afternoon teas.

Food is either made on site or sourced from local independent suppliers. Paul, Tory and Becky always offer a warm welcome whatever the weather.

Come and enjoy the beautifully refurbished hothouse, or relax with your food in our walled garden or secluded courtyard.

The cafe offers daily specials and has an unrivalled reputation for its delicious brownies and scrambled egg.

It is the perfect spot for a family lunch or to meet friends. They are happy to cater for private parties too, so do pop in and have a chat with them if you have a special event coming up.

The Garden Shop

Currently situated in one of the old boiler rooms, the Garden Shop offers a unique range of garden products, gifts, cards and plants. Once the Hothouse Café moves to its new home, the Garden Shop will take up residence in the Potting Shed, providing increased space and a more central location.

The plants on sale are Paul’s own seasonal selection and come with expert advice from Paul himself most days. A full delivery and planting service is available if required, including on-site advice prior to planting.

A constantly expanding range of plants and products are on offer including Sneebour tools, Big Hug bean bags, Marius Fabre and Campagnie De Provence soaps. You will always find a piece of ‘good medicine’ as a gift or to take home for yourself.

The Garden

The garden is a wonderful two acres of space surrounded by 160-year-old formidable walls.Hidden from the outside world, it provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy some “good medicine”.

Right now the Medicine Garden is still in its infancy but the work that has been done is a fresh start and a new phase in the garden’s history. Over time it will evolve and grow, providing an inspirational and reflective space.

We have started to create our medicine wheel, with trees planted at all eight points of the compass, as well as thousands of plants and bulbs along with a decked seating area and a children’s play zone.

Future plans include a circular path linking the trees, which will each have their own dedicated seating, plus water feature and a lot more plants!

The Treatment Room

A recent exciting addition to our project is The Treatment Room. Here you’ll find a selection of different holistic treatments that will help to energise and nurture you. Set in the beautiful, unique space that was an old cart bay, some truly “good medicine” is on offer.

Treatments available include osteopathy, reflexology, homeopathy, kinesiology, facial rejuvenation and sports massage, with further therapies becoming available in the future.

We’d love you to pop in, have a look around and pick up a leaflet. If you would like to know more about what we offer, find out about prices and other details, or if you are interested in becoming a practitioner, please visit our website.

The Larder

Our farm shop is based in the garden’s original Seed Room and specialises in local fare. It stocks the best of food produced locally and delicious discoveries from other small producers. With plenty of tastings on offer, why not pop in and have a chat about our latest finds?

We stock an excellent range of meat from local farms, English cheeses and pies. We also sell fresh artisan bread, cakes and chocolate so there’s always something on hand to feed those unexpected guests or simply something tasty for tea!

Why not join our food club and be first in the queue for our special offers,or try one of our supplier tastings and find out more about where our food comes from and how it is produced? There is always something tasty to try in The Larder.

The Courtyard Community

Within the courtyard behind the main garden we have established a community of small independent businesses, a mix of workshops, studios and retail spaces offering garden antiques, children’s events, soft furnishings, graphic design and landscape gardening.

During 2012 we hope to refurbish the two Victorian glasshouses and develop the main garden. We will also host regular events (see www.themedicinegarden.com for more details), expand the Garden Shop and improve other amenities on the site.

In short, everything we do in The Medicine Garden is about having a taste of ‘good medicine’ and taking a piece of it home with you every time you visit.

We are yet to reveal the main concept behind The Medicine Garden. We hope to introduce more of our vision this year.

Why The Medicine Garden?

How are we structured?

The Medicine Garden Foundation

Our not-for-profit company is dedicated to restoring and maintaining both the fabric of the site and the main garden for generations to come.

We aim over time to bring back the key features of the original garden and courtyard as well as carry out important repairs to the structure and the infrastructure of the site. All monies raised through sponsorship, grants and donations go into the Foundation fund.

The Foundation ensures that the site maintains its integrity and keeps a healthy and viable balance between the commercial and community dimensions of the project. We are also looking to develop educational initiatives around the garden.

The Medicine Garden is managed through two registered companies: The Medicine Garden Foundation (a limited by guarantee organisation) and The Medicine Garden Cobham Ltd.

The Medicine Garden Cobham Ltd.

In order to make the project a viable and sustainable destination zone for the local community, we have established a community of small businesses in the courtyard – including our own Garden Shop. This provides income through rent and retail in addition to the hiring out of the main garden for weddings, functions and other gatherings.

The Medicine Garden is not backed by a large fund but through a small group of people putting what monies and time they can afford into a project they believe in. We are very proud of the community of businesses and individuals involved, each of whom bring their own unique magic to the project.

Helping us grow

We are always looking for ways of generating funds to continue the restoration, maintainance and development of the site. We are seeking new partnerships to help us bring the whole project to life. This includes:

sponsorship possibilities with locally-based businesses

funding opportunities and grants through various trusts and foundations

donations from ‘friends’ in our growing community.

For more information on sponsorship and other ways of supporting this innovative project please visit our website and download ‘Sponsoring The Medicine Garden’.

Our sponsors

For general informationinfo@themedicinegarden.com01932 589 536

For The Hothouse Cafécafe@themedicinegarden.com 01932 862 562

For eventspaul@themedicinegarden.com

Contact us

by carLeave M25 at Junction 10 – then at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto A3 London. Take the first exit, Painshill Junction, then at Painshill roundabout take 3rd exit onto A245. Go straight across the first roundabout, then at the next roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A245. Turn right onto Downside Bridge Road, then continue onto Bridge Road. Continue forward onto Downside Road. Turn right into the entrance and car park of The Medicine Garden.

by trainCobham mainline station

by bus513 stops outside and runs between Guildford and Kingston

by bikeLocal cycle routes

Visit us

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Anvil Lane

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Anvil Lane

Bridge

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Waitrose

Leatherhead

A3

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BUSSTOP

Opening hoursMonday to Saturday 9 – 5Sunday 10 – 4

On-site facilitiesToilets. Baby changing, disabled facilities, free parking

GeneralWe love dogs, but only on a lead. If your pooch makes a mess please clear it up.

The Medicine GardenDownside Road, Cobham. Surrey KT11 3LU

Plough Lane

www.themedicinegarden.comwhy not find and like us on facebook?

The Medicine Garden, Downside Road, Cobham. Surrey KT11 3LU

We look forward to seeing you soon.