An old-fashioned cottage garden not only looks and smells wonderful, it also attracts wildlife too. A cottage garden should inspire your senses, it should look natural, smell wonderful and taste just as good, as many plants and flowers grown in a cottage garden are edible.

A cottage garden uses an informal design, and is traditionally planted with a mixture of ornamental and edible plants. Plants are grown close together to form a blanket of colour, and are planted more casually than usual. Try not to keep to straight lines, bleed forget-me-nots into lobelia, foxgloves into teasels. Leave no spaces or bare earth.

Cottage gardens can be grown in a tiered structure, taller plants such as hollyhocks or delphiniums should be grown at the back of the border, whilst smaller plants such as marjoram should bleed into pathways.

Traditionally cottage gardens were used for more practical reasons, and much emphasis was placed on vegetables, herbs and fruits. Ornamental cabbages and grasses were often grown alongside green cauliflowers and purple sprouting brocolli.

An apple tree is a must for a cottage garden. The gnarled branches of an old apple tree is a delight to see, especially when adorned with a climbing rose or honeysuckle. Birds and bees love apple trees, and they also offer a safe haven for small garden birds.

Cottage gardens should be planted densley, with as many tiers, and nooks and crannies as possible. Old wheelbarrows can be planted up with geraniums and ivies, broken watering cans can be painted and planted with lobelia or Creeping Jenny.

Try to make plenty of small paths to follow, and place old wooden chairs along the way, in places where you can sit a while and appreciate the views and smells. You should be able to get lost in your environement, or at least escape from the old one for a while.

Alium, French Lavender and Marigolds can all take their place in a border, and each of these plants have edible parts.

• See edible flowers

Favourite cottage garden plants include foxgloves, michaelmas daisies, honeysuckle and climbing roses.

Recommended plants for a Cottage Garden include:

• Apple Tree
• Clematis
• Evening Primrose
• Honeysuckle
• Lavender
• Herbs
• Sweet William
• Hollyhocks
• Delphinium
• Calendula
• Roses
• Carnations
• Marigolds
• Lillies
• Night Scented Stock
• Fruit trees & bushes