The history of the Wild Garden is closely tied to that of Shipton Court although some of the details of its origins are still not clear.
Shipton Court was built around 1603 for the Lacey family and we know that a survey of Shipton Manor conducted for the Lacey Family in 1617 refers to the Dog Kennels and a Bowling Green in the area.
In 1773 Sir John Reade’s will instructed his wife not to cut down the Avenue, so this must have been of some substance by that time. The area was first shown on the County Map drawn up in 1797, at that time just the Avenue existed. Although this map has serious inaccuracies on it, clearly the Avenue was already a key feature by then.
A tithe map of 1839 shows a pond and some paths, as well as the original dog kennels in the south west corner which give Dog Kennel Lane its name. At that stage the surrounding fields were still to pasture and there is no evidence of the additional ponds.
The Wild Garden in its present form, was probably laid out in around 1860 as a pleasure garden adjoining Shipton Court, with a network of pathways both around the garden and around what is now the cricket ground. The stream was realigned, the Upper Pond created and the Canals and waterfalls installed. Certainly by the 1881 Ordnance survey map the main features are now present.
A further expansion of the Wild Garden took place probably after the First World War with the addition of general woodlands to the north and south of the Avenue. These expansions and the full path network is clearly shown on the 1921 Ordnance Survey map of the area.
The final change was the development of Cricket Pitch and subsequently the building of Tall Trees. This resulted in the Wild Garden boundaries of today, the long circular walk was lost but the trees that mark this are still visible and also gave Tall Trees its name.
In 1948 the Garden was sold off from the Court and was in separate family ownership until 1977 whereupon it was transferred to a local experienced woodman. He had a vision for this space as a woodland area and embarked on a mission to plant 2000 trees over three decades. The Wild Garden was a beloved spot among villaagers, many of whom had permission to walk in the garden. The owner shared the community’s sentiment of preserving this special place but the maintenance and upkeep were becoming more of a burden than a pleasure.
In 2009 he approached the Parish Council offering the garden for sale on condition that it was never to be developed. The decision was taken to form a charitable company to oversee the purchase and management of the new project. After meetings in all three Wychwood villages the response from the community was overwhelming. A campaign rallied support and raised an initial £30,000 through individual pledges which was increased with many fundraising events. This financial backing allowed the community to acquire The Wild Garden in July 2010, marking the beginning of a new era for this cherished space.
However, before it could be officially opened, safety measures had to be put in place and the journey to transform The Wild Garden into a community asset has not been without its challenges. Yet, these challenges have only strengthened the community’s commitment to preserving and enhancing The Wild Garden. The spirit of this project extends beyond its physical transformation; it symbolises the power of a united community coming together to protect something they hold dear. This shared effort resulted in The Wild Garden being officially opened in December 2010 and it has since become a place of solace, inspiration a natural wonder for all who visit.