Wendy & John Mattingley

Cluny is an iconic woodland garden. The late Bobby Masterton started it in 1949 with plants and seeds, many from the Himalayas and China collected by the Ludlow-Sherriff expeditions. His daughter Wendy grew up here. She trained as a home economics teacher while her husband John taught physics until recently. Neither has had any professional training in horticulture.   In 1987, following the deaths of the Mastertons, they took over responsibility for managing the garden. It has been a labour of love ever since. Wendy is the administrator and weeder while John is the grower and propagator. Skilled use of materials such as leaf mould make this a garden where organic and peat free really do work.  They know the plants so well they do not use labels. They feel they detract from the natural feel of the garden. Wendy has devised   sets of waterproof cards to allow visitors to wander round and identify notable plants.  At six acres Cluny is a relatively   small woodland garden but, to quote the Telegraph’s gardening correspondent:   ‘In no other garden have so many rare and beautiful woodland plants been gathered together and grown with such finesse.’  Year round interest is strong with fruits, bark, shape and texture notable when flowers are scarce.  Plants others find difficult such as the petiolarid primulas are a Cluny speciality. The garden is wildlife friendly and one of the best places in the country to see red squirrels.  Wendy has recorded 100 bird species in the garden.   She also monitors birds of prey in Perthshire. 

In addition John and I would like to add the following: