Climate:
The average winter low temperature is -6°C, with the historical low in 1987 being just above -12°C.  Rainfall in this part of the England is very low, as it is all along this eastern strip, averaging around 500 mm, (20 inches), annually. In 1996 only 330 mm (13 inches) of rainfall fell onto his parched gardens - so much for the "Green and Pleasant Land".

Paul grows a lot of different exotic plants and xerophytes. For his cactus and succulents he has constructed large areas with a
sort of dark  "volcanic, lava-rock" effect, reminiscent of the Canary Islands. Paul has one of two ambitions for his exotic garden - to grow a columnar cactus taller than him and to pick a home outdoor grown banana!  Is he Mad?  Probably not more than my self and others who grow cactus, succulents and other exotic plants in a cold climate, but we do all have a lot of fun experimenting.

This is a view of the Paul's main succulent bank on a sunny day.
Photo Paul Spracklin Copyright © 2000-2005.

Paul's cactus patch on a rare sunny day the spring of 2000.
Photo Paul Spracklin Copyright © 2000-2005.

Paul's cactus patch in the summer of 2000.
Photo Paul Spracklin Copyright © 2000-2005.

Brahea armata and Xanthorrhoea drummondii also seemingly happy on the cactus patch. These were planted in 1997.
Photo Paul Spracklin Copyright © 2000-2005.

A view of Paul's exotic garden, it's almost jungle-like.
Photo Paul Spracklin Copyright © 2000-2005.

Paul Spracklin is the owner of GARDEN DESIGN AND HARDY EXOTIC PLANT SALES  You may want to take a look to learn more about growing exotic plants.