Floral

John Evelyn, a 17th Century English gentleman
was a visionary of his time. His diaries paint a
remarkable account of 17th Century life in both
England and on the continent. One of the first
naturalists and conservationists, a
famous botanist and tree expert. He was
enthusiastically in favour of reforestation to
make good losses due to heavy timber
consumption made by the ship building, iron
smelting and charcoal industries. He had many
books published in his lifetime, several on the
subject of trees and gardens. He designed part of
the gardens here at Wotton, which are rewarded
with a grade 11 listing separately from the house.
Evelyn‟s personal motto “Explore all things,
retain the best, has provided inspiration for our
team over the years.
John Evelyn loved Wotton and although he had
chosen later to live on his wife‟s ancestral home,
he told his wife that “Wotton is still my most
cherished place on earth”