Stourhead in autumn 'is a real life painting'

A Wiltshire estate garden described as "a living work of art" is in full-swing this autumn.

The National Trust's Stourhead Estate garden, first opened in the 1740s, was designed by "Henry the Magnificent".

Head gardener Tim Parker, who oversees the 18 acres of lake and 30 acres of land, said the colours of leaves have changed "overnight".

He said: "It looks a bit like a painting at the moment, we're stood in a painting."

Garden owner and designer, Henry Hoare II was said to have been one of a small group of "gentleman gardeners" who used their large estates to create a personal landscape.

He was inspired by his travels around Europe and, while Stourhead's garden has developed over the centuries, those original inspirations can still be seen today.

Mr Parker said leaves now sounded and smelled different, as well as changing colour.

"The sound as you walk - you’ve got this nice crunch," he said. "There are different smells, that earthly smell of leaves on the ground.

"We’ve got our Kasturi trees and some people say they catch this real candyfloss scent," he added. "It’s intoxicating."

The head gardener said the team had seen a "strong growing season" despite the weather.

He said: "The rain made everything grow - we haven't stopped weeding - and it has helped with our tree planting exercise earlier in the year so they've taken really well.

"It feels like autumn came fairly promptly this year," he added.

"We are seeing great colour and we've got mist coming through which creates another effect."

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