Granary main pond

Though close to civilisation (the Victoria Inn, Roch is only half a mile away) Roch Mill and Granary holiday cottage are quite secluded. Visitors are invited to enjoy our 4 acres of natural moor , and 2 acres of informal gardens. Our large pond attracts ducks, geese, herons and moorhens. Last year we had several visits from an otter and we even had a Water Rail foraging in the waterfall garden.

Mini water wheel in pond outflow

Another resident is a Kingfisher. He's rather secretive and not noticed very often but the patient observer will sometimes catch an iridescent blue flash as he flits from pond to river and back again.

Since we first came to Roch Mill in 1999 we have restored, restructured, extended and developed the gardens. It's an on-going process, partly because our main focus to date has been work on the house and its associated buildings, but largely because we've not previously undertaken gardening on this scale and we've got a lot to learn!

Gardens outside the Granary

We are sure that you will find the peace and tranquillity at Roch Mill a refreshing break from the demanding pressures of our modern world.

Video of the gardens at Roch Mill

Liquid Amber tree by foot bridge

Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum by tailrace

Foot bridge over tailrace

Stepping stones over tailrace

Main pond with Cornus Contoversa Variegata in foreground (The Wedding Cake tree)

Not yet looking very pretty is our newly created flower bed that we call the Millrace garden.

Last year ago this was a just a pile of building material covered with brambles (see photo right). With some help from Kubota, a few tons of top soil and two trailer loads of willow chippings we now have a new bed to fill.

These pictures show our planting so far: a mixture of shrubs (azalias, hydrangers, hebes and euonymus), several ferns, a caster oil tree, some roses, a few blueberry bushes and a couple of dwarf conifers. We'll show a new photograph in the spring showing how the garden has developed.

Natural moor at Roch Mill

About four acres of our land have been left largely untended since we bought the property in 1999. Whilst the damp areas have been invaded by common rush and flag iris there are many other native flowers and grasses. A recent wildflower survey by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park identified over 40 different species. To provide easy access to the moor we mow a boundary path that follows the Brandybrook river, Ladywell spring and the mill race. This 400m loop provides a tranquil rural walk; or a jogging track for keep-fit enthusiasts. For a longer trail there are two public footpaths along the beautiful Brandybrook valley starting right outside our front gate.