Press Room

DEEP IN THE FOREST, LIME WOOD’S HERB HOUSE SPA UNVEILS TRANQUIL ROOF TOP GARDENS

Opened in November 2010 the Herb House Spa is the latest addition to the acclaimed boutique country house hotel Lime Wood, in the heart of the New Forest.  The spa is dedicated to natural wellbeing and inspired by its forest surroundings.  The Herbery, a beautiful rooftop garden, offers an ideal setting for pre or post-spa meditation and contemplation amid the tranquillity of the forest.

The Herbery has been especially designed to reflect the location of the spa and its natural approach to wellbeing, deliberately planted to contrast the small, delicate herbs with the majestic trees in the forest beyond. The elegant, simple layout offers visitors to the spa a haven with meditation spaces and secluded seating overlooking the forest.  The experience is enhanced by the imaginative use of touch and smell to stimulate the senses, incorporating an extraordinary variety of herbs which can also be found in the healthy dishes and infusions available in ‘Raw & Cured’, the Herb House Spa’s own food bar.

The centre of The Herbery is a bay tree-lined walkway, underplanted with classic English lavender.  This leads to the serene ‘Mintarium’, a spacious sun deck and meditation area framed by four ancient and gnarled olive trees and a border comprising an astounding 15 varieties of mint from the familiar (spearmint and peppermint) to the exotic (banana, pineapple, coconut and even chocolate!).   Further varieties of mint can be found in the rustic iron dolly tubs scattered around the deck.

The rooftop space, which has primarily been planted with 15 varieties of thyme, has been carefully divided into secluded areas for individual reflection.  Each area features a seating space which is surrounded by a unique combination of herbs, ensuring no two fragrance experiences are the same and to suit every mood.  Visitors can sit back and drift off to the heady scents of bergamot and cotton lavender, lemon verbena and catmint, or purple sage and rosemary.  En route back to the spa, it is even possible to take a walk on the camomile lawn or become immersed in the fragrance of oregano and verbena.