Cascades Garden
Photo: Ian Calderwood / CC BY-SA 2.0. modified.
Overview
Cascades Gardens is a four-acre meditation garden and bonsai centre in Bonsall, Derbyshire, developed within a former quarry, lead-mine and corn-mill landscape. The development of Cascades Gardens began in 1987. Alan Clements acquired The Cascades and its surrounding land in 1996, after which he substantially expanded and reshaped the garden, gradually adding its Japanese water, dry, tea and Buddhist garden areas.
History
The site historically formed part of Coopers Croft and later contained a corn mill powered by Bonsall Brook. The mill was dismantled during the nineteenth century, and the house known as The Cascades was built by 1887. Before the modern garden was created, the surrounding land remained largely unmanaged and contained dense scrub, an overgrown pond, quarry workings and traces of former lead mining.
Alan Clements purchased the house and two acres of land in 1996, acquiring a further two acres shortly afterwards. He gradually transformed the neglected site into a series of garden areas arranged among the natural cliffs, rocks, woodland, watercourses and mill remains. His approach was shaped by visits to Japan, the study of Zen meditation and an interest in gardens as places supporting emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
The Japanese character of the property developed incrementally rather than through one original master plan. Later additions included a dedicated Japanese water garden, a Buddhist garden, a dry rock garden and a tea garden. The present Japanese pool garden was created in early 2022 by restoring the former silted mill pond.
Design features
The garden is structured around the dramatic natural topography of the site, including an approximately 80-foot limestone cliff, large exposed rocks, woodland slopes, a stream, mill pond and numerous seasonal cascades. Paths connect a series of secluded garden rooms and viewpoints, while benches are placed throughout the landscape for quiet observation and meditation.
The Japanese water garden uses the restored mill pond, flowing water, clipped hedges, ferns, Japanese maples and other woodland planting to create a calm walk-through landscape. Natural stone already present in the former quarry is treated in a manner related to suiseki, emphasising weathered form and the expressive qualities of individual rocks.
A separate karesansui garden employs raked gravel and stone arrangements, while the tea-garden area contains a tea hut and planting intended to create a quieter transition into a contemplative setting. The wider property also includes a Buddhist garden, a large Buddha figure and a bonsai centre.
The Japanese areas are interwoven with perennial borders, roses, alpine planting, conifers and naturalistic British woodland. This combination of Japanese water, dry and tea-garden elements within a broader personal meditation garden.
Garden elements
Bridges
Waters and islands
Stones
Other elements
Current status
Cascades Gardens remains privately owned and maintained by Alan Clements as a visitor garden, meditation venue, bonsai centre and small accommodation business. It is open seasonally on selected days, with paid admission to the garden; group visits and private bookings are also available.