The ancient topiary at Levens Hall in the Lake District is a wonder to behold. Fantastical yew forms towering over almost human figures in box, they amuse and awe with their jovial shapes and otherworldly presence. Beyond them leafy divisions separate a series of secluded chambers, linked by intriguing passageways and openings. Enticing one on with snatched glimpses of new vistas, these walks lead to the heart of the garden, the great Beech Circle. The whole is remarkable for being virtually unchanged since it was created over three hundred years ago. Chris Crowder explains how in 1694, in 'one of the sweetest spots that fancy can imagine', Guillaume Beaumont created the parterre and gave the garden its quartered layout, which includes the earliest ha-ha in England. Drawing on the accounts of owners, stewards and gardeners who helped to shape the garden, he explains how through centuries of skilled care it preserved its heritage, withstanding the vagaries of fashion but evolving to suit the needs of the day. Describing all the features - the herbaceous borders and colour-themed seasonal bedding, the new Fountain Garden and even the service areas behind the scenes - he shows how today Levens is gardened for a multitude of visitors as a series of visual hits for maximum sensual impact.

With Vivian Russell's breathtaking photographs, and illustrations from the Levens archives, the book sings the glories of the garden, presenting all the nuances of its effects: contrasts of light and shade, movement from fullness of form to space and void, moments of intensity relieved by restful pools of contemplative peace - and not least the resonance of a past age that has made it famous throughout the world. Book jacket.