If you drive through Impington, you could be forgiven for missing the windmill, which is partially hidden behind trees standing beside a charming cottage in 1.5 acres of wooded garden. The windmill, which produced flour and animal food until 1930, is purported to be the oldest in Cambridgeshire having stones from the Tudor era in its base. A onetime owner was the Chivers Company of jam making fame. However, in 2000 when the current owners Pippa and Steve Temple bought the property, the windmill was leaking water in a bad state of disrepair and the garden was a tangled wilderness of overgrown trees, brambles, ivy and bindweed.
All this is hard to imagine, when members of our Gardening Club visited in July. After being warmly greeted by our hosts, we were led round the cottage to the pretty gardens encircling the windmill with grassy lawns and stunning herbaceous borders. A rose laden wooden pergola running along a pathway to the back door of the house caught the eye. After tea and biscuits in a sunny seating area, Pippa explained the challenges of taming such a wild unkempt garden. After hacking out a secret pathway round the edges of the property, she described how it takes 4 years to clear the trees and undergrowth for planting. In general Pippa has kept a white theme throughout the garden intermingled with yellows and blues, except in the mill stone seating area where the planting smoulders in reds and oranges. There is an apple orchard. fountains sourced by an undergrown well and unexpected benches in quiet shady spots. Over the years Pippa has planted over 28,000 bulbs, largely pale daffodil and snowdrops and introduced vigorous climbing roses which lace through the trees.
The restoration of the windmill and the engine sheds is Steve’s project. The structure is now sound, and maintenance is ongoing. At the time of our visit two sails had been removed for repainting. Those adventurous enough to scale the almost vertical wooden stairs were shown the impressive machinery on various levels inside.
Steve and Pippa’s 24-year passion and achievements are inspirational and viewing the Windmill Gardens is highly recommended. The Garden is part of the National Garden Scheme and visits can be arranged by appointment.
Rosemary Jones