Gants Mill & Garden, Bruton, Somerset

Watergarden with sculptures, historic watermill for generating electricity and corn-grinding.

• Glorious flower-filled watergarden to relax and canodle in
• Historic watermill tour includes grinding corn and electricity generation
• Riverside walk, tea and home-made cake in garden or conservatory

Wander round Alison’s garden, by the streams, ponds, waterfalls and pergolas, and see the lovely garden sculptures, each in a perfect setting, with irises, delphiniums, roses or dahlias. Tea and home-made cake can be taken in the fuchsia and begonia conservatory, or out in a quiet corner of the garden, where sweet nothings can be murmured. Stroll hand-in-hand along the riverbank up to the top weir, for canoodling by the waterfall.

Stepping down onto the flagged floor of the old watermill, you walk the length of the thousand year time-line of mill history. Miller Brian starts up the Victorian turbine, and you hear the rumble of the grindstones stirring into life, and can feel the freshly ground meal, still warm. Peering down into the old waterwheel pit, you make out the new turbine with gushing water below it, and the generator humming as it puts electricity into the local grid.