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And then there were five Words: Adrienne Matthews
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ome people have an uncanny ability to bring dreams to reality and Chris Warren is one such creative. Purchasing a six hectare property with gentle contours in Upper Moutere seven years ago, he has created five exquisite cottages that have become Tilvery Boutique Accommodation. Named after his teenage daughters, Tilly and Verity, the project has been a true labour of love. No stranger to hard graft, Chris is well known for the way he previously transformed a guest house in Queen Charlotte Sound into highly praised, artful boutique accommodation. Not intending to ever do it again, he couldn’t resist the pull of the new property on his imagination and he has brought the same flair and attention to detail to Tilvery.
Already graced with established oaks and redwoods, he embarked on an extensive planting and regeneration plan. Chris has lost count of the number of plants and trees he has dug into the Moutere clay. These include what will be spectacular ‘cathedral’ tree plantings where a central large tree or groups of trees are surrounded by layers of lower growing species. In one a Redwood forms the centre, surrounded first by a layer of Silver Birch, and then a hedge of thriving Griselinia. Included amongst other mass plantings are banks of Cork Oak and Italian Cypress. Builder Andrew Dillon enjoyed the project from the start. “There was a huge amount of preparation before we could begin,” he explains. “We were essentially building on a swamp
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