The brief was straightforward:

English country garden, but keep it simple. For designer Angel Collins, the invitation to develop the six acres of gardens that surround Bruern Abbey in Oxfordshire was “a dream commission”.

When Angel’s clients, Lord Glendonbrook (formerly Sir Michael Bishop) and Martin Ritchie bought the property five years ago, the house had been empty for seven years and the gardens were in need of attention. Today, three years after the re-design began, the new planting is approaching its full glory. Its seeming simplicity is testament not only to Angel’s skills but also to those of Bruern Abbey’s three young gardeners with whom she continues to work.

There’s no trace of the 12th-century Cistercian Abbey on the site of which Bruern Abbey was constructed. The architecture of the present house, built for Sir John Cope in the early 1720s, is the simple baroque to be found in other notable Oxfordshire buildings of the period. To the south and overlooked by three storeys of fine windows, lies the South Garden. Other than a striking vista that stretches from the house to the fields beyond, little evidence remains of its early 18th-century design.

Columns of large and established yews draw the eye over an existing and now renovated canal, exaggerating the length of the vista. “I wanted to increase the sense of the garden’s width,” says Angel. Her solution was to add two new, straight-edged pools that run across, rather than down the garden.

Sixteen hornbeams, perfectly clipped into a beehive shape, are planted at a similar angle. Together, they stall the attention at the garden’s mid-point.

Similarly, 16 square flowerbeds planted identically and in the style of a perennial knot garden add to the symmetry of the view. Angel kept the young gardeners in mind when designing these large beds. “I wanted to ensure they were as straightforward to care for as possible,” she says. A mix of perennials such as Perovskia atriplicifolia, Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Diane’, Allium sphaerocephalonand Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’ provides vibrant colour throughout the growing season, while evergreen topiary adds structure during the winter. In short, a previously good vista has been upgraded to the spectacular.

“Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ is the best plant at Bruern. It has something to offer for eight months of the year”

Adjoining the house and overlooking the South Garden is a paved terrace surrounded by flowerbeds. “Euphorbia ‘Phrampton Phatty’ was very good at filling the gaps here in the early days and helped to make the planting look established,” explains Angel. “I particularly love the fresh green of the fennel and the waft of pink from Althea cannabina in this part of the garden,” she adds. Rosa ‘Burgundy Ice’, Gaura lindheimeri, Phlox and dahlias keep the colour going in these borders from late spring to autumn. “The Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’ is possibly the best plant at Bruern,” Angel points out. “It has something interesting to offer for eight months of the year.”

Bruern Abbey’s dahlias deserve special mention as they are viewed with particular affection. Lord Glendonbrook’s father was a keen Dahlia grower. In recognition of the fact, many of the plants in the gardens have been given as presents and conjure up memories of friends and of childhood. To the west of the house lies the Rose Garden. Rather than starting from scratch, Angel has added to the planting established by the previous owners. “There were already four wonderful Magnolia stellata here,” she says. “They obviously like the soil so I included other magnolias elsewhere in the gardens to create continuity.” It is arguable that this repetition of key plants throughout the garden contributes towards the sense of simplicity her clients were seeking.

“It is like a firework display. We’re left wondering which explosion of colour will be the last”

One of Bruern Abbey’s hidden delights is a meadow of colourful annuals grown on a raised terrace. “The timing of sowing is crucial,” says Angel. “We can’t start until after the frosts. We often plan it to coincide with a special event at the house.” The flowering peaks in waves, prompting Lord Glendonbrook to remark that “it is rather like a firework display. We’re left wondering which explosion of colour will be the last.”

Perhaps the best secret of all is the Inner Courtyard Garden. “We wanted something that was charming and romantic,” says Martin Ritchie. Angel has more than fulfilled the brief and it is impossible not to be charmed. Surrounded by the house, this garden is approached from an unexpected direction. As a result, its impact on the senses is considerable.

Two simple rills with 16 waterspouts run between four exquisitely planted beds. “I’ve used Ligustrum diagonally across the beds on either side of the rills to make the garden look wider, and then added Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ to their centres.” explains Angel. “Of all the plants in this garden, I particularly like Lobelia tupa with its wonderful lime green leaves. It flowers right through July and August. Luckily, it loves the courtyard,” she adds.

The Courtyard Garden is a fitting finale to a visit to Bruern Abbey, where Angel’s skilful plant selection and careful consideration of the architecture and existing landscape have created a series of intimate gardens that both delight and surprise.

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