3 February 16 | kvh | Leave a comment 2016 was the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great landscape designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (known thus, so they say, because of his habit of saying to garden owners/potential clients “yes, this garden definitely has capability”!) Whilst the current layout of the garden primarily dates back to the 19th century, Brown was responsible for the 3 lakes, the sight lines and tree planting to the main house , the Walled Kitchen Garden and the magnificent Orangery building which houses Camellias, thought to be the oldest in the country and dating to 1833. The Orangery is also now a fabulous tea room! A Christian conference centre for over 50 years, the house and gardens offer a place of spiritual sanctuary and refuge. Happily, they are keen to share the garden with interested visitors (on condition we partake of tea and cake!) http://www.ashburnham.org.uk/contact-us/about-us