Jardin Les Hêtres

A few kilometres away from Dieppe, the Jardin Les Hêtres (Beech Garden) is located in the pretty town of Offranville. This 3,000 sq m (0.7 acre) garden began to be designed 40 years ago by a nature lover and passionate person.
Hellebores, magnolias, rhododendrons and some sumptuous forty-year-old hydrangeas thrive in the shade of a beautiful one-hundred-year-old beech grove. Follow us!

On a sunny afternoon, we went for a family walk at the Beech Garden. The owner Bertrand Levasseur welcomed us warmly to his green and peaceful setting. We were greeted by a profusion of hydrangeas, pink, blue, purple... They looked splendid and their size was impressive! We followed the green corridor that led us to the garden. The lawn was perfectly mowed and smelled of freshly cut grass. A smell I particularly enjoy as it brings back childhood memories. This large green expanse is dotted with colourful flower beds and plants, and several footpaths. We walked under an arch covered with plants and wandered around the heart of this charming garden. We saw all sorts of species and especially beautiful flowers. We strolled in a mosaic of colours in the shade of a very old beech grove. The setting is really quiet and we were accompanied by the chirping of the birds. This walk was a perfect moment to relax and take a break. We arrived to an area with chairs and a bench encircled by a hedge. We sat down for a few minutes and admired the trees and perennial plants around us, making us wonder...

We continued our walk stopping regularly to smell the flowers and went into raptures over the lush flowerbeds. Each plant is identified by a label, which allowed me to expand my knowledge. The more we visited the garden, the more we forgot we were in a garden and not in a pretty woodland. From the far end of the garden, the green walkways offer a beautiful perspective on the whole space and the house. I was pleased to spot one of my favourite trees: a Japanese maple, easily recognizable. Not far from there, there are several species of hydrangeas that were blooming. We were astonished by the shape of the petals, some of them look like lace. Nature will never cease to surprise and amaze us.

We would soon finish our nice walk, our heads filled with colours. But before we left, we went to pay compliments to Mr Levasseur for this beautiful scenery and learnt that the place also has a B&B. Ideal for a garden getaway!