In keeping with the grandeur of the magnificent house, the grounds at Castle Howard are designed on a heroic scale. First laid out in the early years of the 18th century, the 1,000 acres of gardens are dotted with statues, lakes, and fountains, and delightful walks reveal hidden glades and breathtaking views. With many terrace walks and lakeside paths, memorable sights include the Atlas Fountain and the Temple of the Four Winds. Set within the walled gardens, the rose garden contains 2,000 modern roses of all types, including David Austin's English roses, making this one of England's most comprehensive collections. Set on the site of an ancient woodland, Ray Wood ? a rare combination of the planter's art and botanical science ? holds one of the most extensive plant collections in private hands in Europe. A more recent development is Castle Howard's Ornamental Vegetable Garden, known as the Potager, on the site of the House's original kitchen garden. This book of the extraordinary 18th-century gardens of one of England's finest historic houses through the seasons features a foreword by the Hon. Simon Howard, who lives at Castle Howard.
Mike Kipling comes from Scarborough, and having studied town planning at Newcastle University, became Assistant Area Planning Officer at Richmond. But in 1996 he decided to become a photographer, and now has one of the largest practices in the north of England where his work is widely published. He lives in Guisborough, Cleveland. Christopher Ridgeway has been curator at Castle Howard since 1985, and has written and lectured widely on its architecture, gardens and collections. The Hon. Simon Howard lives at Castle Howard with his wife Rebecca and their twins Merlin and Octavia.