Gnome Reserve

The Gnome Reserve
Historic garden gnomes on display at the Reserve

The Gnome Reserve is a garden and tourist attraction in West Putford, near Bradworthy, Devon, England, presented as a pastoral refuge for garden gnomes.[1]

The reserve was established in 1979 by Ann Atkin, a former art student. Her account states,

While painting birds in landscapes I came to what was like a T Junction in my painting development. I did not know whether to turn left or right as different elements of what I liked in painting appeared irreconcilably in opposite directions. It was very disturbing! Until—one day—a gnome appeared in my mind and seemed to say: "Don’t go left; don’t go right; you must dig / build your own road straight across."

Ann Atkin established the reserve on 4 acres (1.6 ha) and remains the owner today. Gnome merchandise is sold to visiting tourists.[2] The reserve holds more than 2,000 gnomes and is included in the Guinness Book of World Records.[3] The four-acre reserve also has model pixies. The area includes woodlands, a stream, pond, meadow, and wildflower garden with "about 250 labelled species of wildflowers, herbs, grasses and ferns."[4] Photographs are allowed and encouraged. Gnome hats and fishing rods are loaned to visitors free of charge.[4] It is not uncommon for some gnomes to eventually get taken by the visitors.[2] The reserve has refused to sell gnomes with knives on their backs.[5]

See also

  • Watermouth Castle, also in North Devon, which is home to Gnome Land, a gnome-themed amusement park.

References

  1. ^ "Bearded wonder". The Daily Telegraph. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b Damien Fletcher (13 August 2008). "The shadowy world of the sinister Gnome Liberation Front – Mirror Online". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Gnome sweet gnome: they're back... House & Home –". The Independent. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b "The Gnome Reserve & Wild Flower Garden – fun family day out – Attraction Devon". Gnomereserve.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Clear case of gnome-icide!". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2013.

50°54′57″N 4°20′38″W / 50.915866°N 4.343961°W / 50.915866; -4.343961