![The English Garden 201004 [PDF]](https://pdfs.asia/img/200x200/the-english-garden-201004.jpg)
8 0 62 MB
THE ENGLISH
FREE*
GARDEN TREE PEONY FOR EVERY READER worth £14.99
APRIL A PRIL 2010
FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
NEW SERIES
Toby Buckland
talks techniques
TULIPS, BLUEBELLS, PEONIES AND IRISES
Spring blooms
5
£3.90 A$9.50
fantastic gardens
Somerset to Surrey
KEEPING HENS AS GARDEN FRIENDS www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
APRIL IS THE MONTH TO... ● Taste a sweet EASTER TEA out in the garden ● Go visiting with our MONEY-OFF VOUCHERS ● GROW YOUR OWN WINE or try the UK’s best ● Take an eco-dip - try SWIMMING PONDS
Trees, T rrees, an a investment i investm ment that h will will last l a lifetime... lif i
...for lastingg value, that improves imprroves with age, that t we can look up to with pride! pridee! U Selection of over o r 7000 trees rees set on o 19 acres acrres U Specimen p trees from frrom 12ft 2ft to 45ft, mature matur mat re shrubs, shrub ubs,
ant mature matu hedging h d d screening scre instant and U Supply upply pp y only y through thro th ough ugh g to complete installation instal inst llation ion serrvice r and d aftercare f rcare service U Friendly, Fr Friendly y,, knowledgeable k knowle edgeable dgeable staff to assist you y U Nursery visits welcome w come U Nationwide nwide delivery deliv ver very U E-mail, fax or telephone telephon ne quotes U Full F ll advisory and and planting ting services U Design services U Establishment guarantees guarant antees
Easily accessible nursery nursery site nur off the A5, 1/4 mile the m from f M1 at Junction Ju n9
Visit V iisitt our new website to view vieew w the and all th he latestt information aan nd d Trees aadvice dvice d ce from f Majestic T Tr reees www.majestictrees.co.uk www. www .majestictrees.co.u majestictrees.co uk “Excellent service from your sales sta staff. W Wee havee used one of o last your ur competitors for la las st 10 0 years but will definitely b be Majestic Trees. done!” switching ching to Majest Maj tic T rees. r Good od job, well done do e!” Tree Ltd Apple T rree Landscapes Landsca L td them” “Fabulous, Fabulous, friendly staff - nothing is too much for them m” George’ss Scho School St Geo George’ ool “Orders “Or Orders done ne by phone and totally relying on staff an and nd recommendations excellent” rec commendations which have been excellen exce nt” Rowe-Ham Lady Rowe-Ha am
01582 843881 www.majestictrees.co.uk w w w. m a j e s t i c t r e e s . c o . uk
Majestic tic T Trees rees is open 8.30am - 5pm Monday M ay to Friday 8.30 and d Saturday 10am - 5pm* *4pm *4 4pm close Satur Sat Saturdays rdays d November ember to March
Chequers Hill, Flamstead, Flaamstead, Nr St.Albans, Herts, Herts,, AL3 8ET Tel: Tel: e 01582 843881 843881 Fax: 01582 843882 8 e-mail:: [email protected] @majesticg
EDITOR’S LETTER
Growing veg in raised beds may be a way to allow children to enjoy the run of the patch without causing damage appy childhood memories are precious and I’m so grateful that many of mine were formed in wonderful gardens. One such garden was VANN in Surrey (pg 59). I used to play there with the owner’s daughter. At the time, I was blissfully unaware of how precious all the dainty woodland plants were and the work that went into keeping such a garden. I’m sure I was guilty of squashing the odd primrose - to avoid this in my own garden, I’ve told my young son that the flowers are home to little fairies (this works a treat). To me, Vann was just heaven with places to hide, and home to many adventures. I respect gardeners who want to keep law and order, but it is a gift to allow children to enjoy a garden without too many rules imposed. There’s an art to getting the balance right, and it definitely takes a certain type of gardener and a certain amount of space to achieve this. I’m convinced that being able to enjoy a garden and experiment with digging and building dens is how great and inventive gardeners are born. I’ve been testing RAISED BEDS (pg 24) - growing veg in raised beds may be a way to allow children to enjoy the run of the veg patch without causing too much damage. On the subject of sharing, we have advice for those who want to keep hens and still have a productive garden (pg 92).
HOWARD WALKER
H
April has so many delights in store with primulas, bluebells and tulips being highlights for many. PASHLEY MANOR (pg 27) in Sussex is the place to head for a tulip bonanza at the end of the month, while ENYS GARDEN in Cornwall (pg 42) offers one of the most breathtaking bluebell scenes in the country. I’m thrilled to be able to welcome TOBY BUCKLAND (pg 15) on board this month. In his NEW SERIES, he will be giving his advice and sharing his wisdom on practical gardening topics, starting with seedling care. Enjoy the issue and have a wonderful Easter - the perfect time to really get cracking on gardening projects.
THE ENGLISH GARDEN AWARDS 2009 Garden Media Guild Gardening Column Of The Year Jackie Bennett
Tamsin Westhorpe, Editor
Garden Media Guild New Garden Media Talent Of The Year Stephanie Mahon
2008 Garden Media Guild New Writer Award Joe Reardon-Smith
On the cover: Pashley Manor, Sussex (pg 27) Photograph: Marie O’Hara
May 6th - 9th 2010
Come and Celebrate 25 Years of Gardening Ideas with Us 17 Stylish Show Gardens RHS Malvern Floral Marquee 25th Anniversary Celebrations
Box Office
01684 584 924 www.threecounties.co.uk
ASSISTANCE DOGS ONLY
THE ENGLISH
GARDEN FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
www.theenglishgarden.co.uk EDITORIAL Tel: +44 (0)1242 211080 Fax: +44 (0)1242 211081 Email: [email protected] Website: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk Editor Tamsin Westhorpe Deputy Editor Cinead McTernan Art Editor Frances Wallace Production Editor/Writer Stephanie Mahon Editorial Assistant Victoria Kingsbury
UK ADVERTISING Tel: +44 (0)1242 211072 Fax: +44 (0)1242 255116 Email: [email protected] Group Sales Manager Graeme Kirk Account Manager Kim Holtham Classified Sales Executive Emily Lucas
PRODUCTION Group Production Manager Susan Bozzard Advertisment Production Francesca Winterman, Mikey Godden, Matthew Griffiths Email: [email protected]
NORTH AMERICAN AD SALES Group Sales Manager Graeme Kirk Tel: +44 (0)1242 216093 Email: [email protected]
UK SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe to The English Garden, tel: +44 (0)1858 438840 Email: [email protected] Head of Direct Customer Marketing Fiona Penton-Voak Senior Subscription Executive Abigail Stockton Marketing Designer Jane Henbest
US SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: 1-800-998-0807 Queries: [email protected]
PUBLISHING Circulation Manager Richard Kirby Head of Events David Storrar
Archant Specialist Managing Director Miller Hogg Email: [email protected]
The English Garden, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1BB
Subscription Offices: UK: The English Garden, CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, England. Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958. USA: Evergreen Marketing, 116 Ram Cat Alley, suite 201, Seneca, SC 296783263. Tel: 1-800-998-0807 (toll free). Canada: The English Garden, 1415 Janette Avenue, Windsor, ON N8X 1Z1. Tel: 1-800-998-0807 (toll free). Europe and Rest of World: +44 (0)1858 438840. Online: www.theenglishgarden.co.uk Printing: William Gibbons Ltd, Willenhall. News Distribution: UK: Seymour, 86 Newman Street, London W1T 3EX, England. Tel: +44 (0)20 7396 8000. USA and Canada: CMG, LLC/155 Village Blvd, 3rd Floor, Princeton. NJ 08540, USA. Rest of World: As for UK. MAGAZINE BINDERS: Send £11.95 per 12-copy binder to: The English Garden Binders, CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, England. Overseas readers add £2. Tel: UK +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958. Overseas +44 1858 438840. BACK ISSUES Available in UK for £4.60, Europe and Eire £5.60, Rest of the World £6.60 from CDS Global, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, England. Tel: +44 (0)1858 438840. Fax: +44 (0)1858 434958. Overseas: Tel: +44 1858 438840. The English Garden (UK issue) ISSN no 1361-2840. Printed in England.
Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
Contents APRIL 10
NEW The Rake James Alexander-Sinclair’s round up of mustvisit shows and events. Plus what else is on in this month’s listings
12
27
Shopping… for the smallholder We bring you the best bits and bobs for keeping chickens, bees and more
✿ 15
NEW Talking techniques Toby Buckland starts his new exclusive series with advice on potting on seedlings
17
In action Spring has sprung at Houghton Hall in Norfolk and the team are kept busy with tasks all over the garden
24
Editor’s choice: Raised bed kits Tamsin finds out if flatpack kits are any good when it comes to creating an instant bed
32 Focus on Cornwall Gardens, flower shows and a luxury hotel 110 Library leaves Books to inspire artistry, travel and self-sufficiency 130 Guest speaker Alastair Sawday on good communal gardening
Glorious gardens
17
27 ✿ 35 ✿ 42 ✿ 51 ✿
SUSSEX Eleven days of heaven Visit Pashley Manor’s spectacular tulip festival with us - and plan to go this year
WILTSHIRE Attention to detail Order and colour reign supreme in this young but mature garden
CORNWALL Into the blue English bluebells make this restored ancient garden and park a seasonal wonderland
SOMERSET A secret no more A charming garden once hidden behind closed doors is now open for visitors to enjoy
Design
97
105
35
59 ✿
DESIGN GUIDE Jekyll genius Plants are the star of this beautiful garden, first created with the help of Gertrude Jekyll
67
DESIGN BOOK Planting pointers Andrew Duff reveals how to pick and choose the best plants when designing your plot
70 ✿
DESIGN FEATURES Natural swimming ponds Swimming pool, wildlife pond and the latest way to take a plunge
Grow & eat 79 ✿ 84 ✿ 89
✿ 92
Otter farm Mark Diacono explains why you’ll be in good company if you plant a vineyard in your garden
From the kitchen garden High time for tea and lemon curd Eats &Treats A vineyard, restaurant, café, garden, shop and farmers’ market are all found under one roof in Suffolk
Keeping chickens Fancy fresh eggs on Easter Sunday? Find out how having poultry and a flower-filled garden is possible
59 15 PAGE
105 PAGE
89
PAGE
PAGE
51
59
PAGE
27
PAGE
35 PAGE
42
Plants 9 77 97 105
✿ ✿
Plant swatch Three tough flowers to edge a border Eco-watch Much misunderstood lichens, mosses and fungi Plant focus Rare varieties of beautiful ruffle-flowered peonies Iris nursery Bearded irises bring a bit of French charm to the UK
Offers, competitions & events Subscriptions Save 31% plus receive a gift worth £19.95 Insurance Special rates for homes and gardens for readers 102 Plant offer FREE* TREE PEONY for every reader 114 Garden vouchers Make a great spring saving of £73.50 57 78
✿ ✿
with our 2-for-1 entry or free afternoon tea at 16 of England’s most beautiful gardens
118 Reader Events 2010 Plan your perfect outing for this year 121 Web page and rules www.theenglishgarden.co.uk special deals, and our competition and offer terms and conditions
On the cover
✿
84
42
79
PLANT SWATCH TOUGH EDGING
Path finders CAMPANULA/GWI - RODGER TAMBLYN SANTOLINA/GWI - FLOWERPHOTOS/GILLIAN PLUMMER LAVANDULA/GWI - JOHN MARTIN COMPILED BY/JACKIE BENNETT
Take your choice of low-growing, front-of-border plants that hold their own against foot traffic
Campanula
Santolina
Campanula portenschlagiana, the Dalmatian
A small evergreen shrub with a Mediterranean
Lavender For an unusual compact lavender, try Lavandula
bellflower, is a true-blue stalwart (above). With
pedigree, Santolina chamaecyparissus makes
angustifolia ‘Loddon Pink’ (above right). It’s ideal
an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, it
an excellent low hedge. The shoots have
for the front of a border or grown in a row either
is an easy-to-grow rockery plant that spreads
a white, downy appearance - hence the common
side of a path. The almost-pink flowers make a
vigorously, making it ideal as a path edging
name, cotton lavender - and the leaves are
change from blues and the foliage is soft and
too. Flowers appear from June to September.
narrow and aromatic with tiny ‘teeth’ along their
aromatic. Height 45cm. Spread to 90cm.
Height 15cm. Spread up to 90cm.
edges. It also has white buds (top right) and
GROWING CONDITIONS Lavenders like
GROWING CONDITIONS Likes a fertile,
sunny yellow flowers from mid- to late summer.
well-drained conditions and lots of sun. Clip
well-drained soil and as much sun as possible.
Height 50cm. Spread to 90cm.
off the finished flower stems in spring, taking
It can be grown at the base of a south-facing
GROWING CONDITIONS Loves a sunny
care not to cut into the woody stems. If
wall; in crevices; in between paving stones;
position and can cope with poor soil as long
growing in rows, be prepared to replace
and along pathways. It is hardy, but will need
as it has good drainage. Cut back the flower
one or two plants from time to time.
water if there are prolonged dry spells.
stems in spring.
WHERE TO BUY Not widely available, but
WHERE TO BUY Widely available at garden
WHERE TO BUY Widely available or try
try Norfolk Lavender, tel: 0845 3451555,
centres or try Perryhill Nurseries, Edenbridge
Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre,
www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk or New Forest
Road, Hartfield, East Sussex TN7 4JP. Tel: +44
Tingewick Road, Buckingham MK18 4AE.
Lavender - www.newforestlavender.com - or
(0)1892 770377. www.perryhillnurseries.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1280 822133. www.hedging.co.uk
online at www.shootgardening.co.uk
The English Garden
9
news ● updates ● events ● trends ● gossip ● news ● updates ● events any months have di stinctive colours: January can be quite brownish, and April is terribly, terribly yellow. It is the month of the daffodil, when gardens, roadside verges and vases are stuffed full of the irrepressibly cheerful little blighters. Fine while they l ast, but by the end of the month I am longing for something less eggy. That is why the tulip, with its many colours, is so very welcome. This month there are tulip festivals all over the country, organised by the excellent De Jager bulb people - find out what’s going on in your region by visiting www.dejager.co.uk James Alexander-Sinclair
M
AH! AURICULAS An auricula is basically an extremely superior primrose that became popular in the late 18th century. Interestingly, it was not the gardeners in grand houses but the weavers and miners of Northern England who began breeding and showing them. They were displayed in ‘auricula theatres’, which were wooden structures designed to protect them from the weather and show them off at their best. Calke only surviving original example.
EATING ASPARAGUS
They are beautiful plants with
Do you know Marriott Edgar?
many, many different colours and
He wrote monologues for Stanley
subtleties. This is the time of year
Holloway and others: Albert and
when they flower so hurry, hurry.
the Lion is probably the best
COURSES AT BARNSDALE
The National Auricula and Primula
known. My children can recite one
Most of you will remember (fondly) Geoff Hamilton who presented
Society have shows in the West of
about Mr Ramsbottom going to
Gardeners’ World in the 1980s: lots of sheds knocked up from bits
England (17 April) and the West
the races, which has the refrain
of scrap wood and great organically raised plants. The programme
Midlands (25 April). For further
‘Ass-sparagus, wot the toffs eat’.
was broadcast from his own garden at Barnsdale, near Rutland
details, tel: +44 (0)1530 222458.
He wins, has a dressed crab for his
Water. The gardens are still thriving and offer a wide range of
www.auriculaandprimula.org.uk
tea and buys some asparagus to
useful courses. This month you could learn about composting,
take home with him. Unfortunately,
vegetables, pruning, watercolours and designing with plants (this
as he has no idea what it is. He
last one with Chelsea medal winner Adam Frost). Tel: +44 (0)1572
feeds the ends to various rabbits
813200 or visit www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk
and Mrs R thinks they are sticks for the fire. Anyway, the point of that slightly longwinded story is that British Asparagus Season starts on 23 April, and no longer is it just the Toffs who get to eat this particularly wonderful vegetable. The season only lasts a few short weeks, so go get some. There are recipes and growing advice at the website: www.british-asparagus.co.uk
10 The English Garden
RAKE ILLUSTRATION/JO DAVIES JAMES ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR/JENNY LEWIS AURICULAS/JOHN SEWELL ASPARAGUS/WWW.SARAHRAVEN.COM BARNSDALE/HAMILTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Abbey in Derbyshire houses the
●
trends ● gossip ● news ● updates ● events ● trends ● gossip ● news APRIL EVENTS RHS MALVERN SHOW
● Thursday 1 April to 12 September,
We are just about to launch
London A new exhibition and a series
ourselves into the maelstrom of
of events will be held at the Garden
garden shows. The first big RHS
Museum about Christopher Lloyd
show is the marvellous Malvern
and his life at Great Dixter. For further
Spring Show (Thurs 6 to Sun 9
details, tel: +44 (0)20 7401 8865 or visit
May). This is probably my favourite
www.museumgardenhistory.org
show, because the setting is
● Friday 2 to Monday 5 April, Suffolk
uncrowded and lovely, the show
The Suffolk Garden Show, the
gardens spectacular and the
southeast’s largest horticultural event
nurseries are enthusiastic. This
at Trinity Park showground. 9.30am-
will be the fifth consecutive year
5pm. Tel: +44 (0)1702 549623.
that I run the theatre there, and the
www.aztecevents.co.uk
25th anniversary of the show itself.
● Sunday 4 & Monday 5 April,
On Thursday, I will be joining Chris
Hereford A traditional Easter lunch at
Beardshaw when he chooses
Castle House, followed by an egg hunt
the lucky designer who will be
in the garden. To book a table, tel: +44
mentored by him for the next year.
(0)1432 356321. www.castlehse.co.uk
Joe Swift and Cleve West are there
● Sunday 4 & Monday 5 April,
on Friday and Saturday, so for the
Shropshire Plant Hunter’s fair at the
first time we will have Three Men
Dorothy Clive Garden. 10am-5.30pm.
Went To Mow: Live. I am not quite
www.dorothyclivegarden.co.uk
sure exactly what we will be doing
● Sunday 11 April, Northamptonshire
but I think it will involve Jekka
‘Growing for success’, a RHS lecture
McVicar, some chickens, a number
with James Alexander-Sinclair at
of garden designers, a gaggle of
Evenley Wood Garden. 3.30-5.30pm.
nurserymen and (definitely) some
For tickets, tel: 0845 6121253.
acrobats. Plus food, cookery
or visit www.rhs.org.uk
demonstrations, garden advice and
● Friday 16 to Sunday 18 April,
plants for sale. Daily, 9am-6pm.
Cardiff Held in Bute Park, the RHS
Tickets from £13.50 to £29.50.
show provides inspirational displays
Tel: +44 (0)1684 584900 or visit
and expert advice. To book, visit
www.threecounties.co.uk
www.rhs.org.uk ● Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 April, Guernsey Spring festival week. To find out more about events, visit www.floralguernsey.co.uk ● Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 April, Yorkshire Enjoy the Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Tickets from £12. Save £2 by booking online before noon on Tuesday 20 April. Tel: 0845 8733303. www.flowershow.org.uk ● Tuesday 20 to 27 April, Kent View the spectacular tulips and spring bulbs at Leeds Castle. Tickets £17.50 for adults and £10 for children - every ticket is valid for 12 months and includes entry to forthcoming events. 10am-
WAKEHURST/RBG KEW
6pm. Tel: +44 (0)1622 765400. www.leeds-castle.com
TAKE A WALK AT WAKEHURST
● Thursday 22 April to Sunday 9
Kew’s country cousin, Wakehurst Place, covers 465 acres of Sussex, with gardens, woodland and the Millennium
May, Derbyshire Bluebells and more
Seed Bank. The weekend of 24-25 April sees the first of the Spring Flower Weekends there. Knowledgeable guides
at Renishaw. For more information,
lead tours to see bluebells, rhododendrons and wildflowers. For the less mobile, there are minibus tours on the
tel: +44 (0)1246 432310.
Sunday. Find out more by calling tel: +44 (0)1444 894067 or at www.kew.org
www.sitwell.co.uk
SHOPPING FOR THE SMALLHOLDER
Merci beau coop Show your gratitude to your feathered friends and buzzing honey bees with these deluxe homes and accessories, guaranteed to get them flapping with excitement
2
3
4
5
COMPILED BY/VICTORIA KINGSBURY
7
6
8
OPPOSITE PAGE The Beach Hut, suitable for four to six hens, £599. Tel: +44 (0)7712 649598. www.happyhenhuts.co.uk 2 Drinker, £24. Brush and scraper, £13.50. Corn scoop, £12. Tel: +44 (0)1359 268322. www.kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk 3 The Eglu Cube. Available in green, pink, orange, red and purple. From £595. Tel: 0845 4502056. www.omlet.co.uk 4 The Bantam beehive, £235. A 1.8m run could be added for £150. Tel: +44 (0)1730 825119. www.newbarntimberproducts.co.uk 5 Bumblebee nester, £22. Tel: +44 (0)1844 217060. www.henandhammock.co.uk 6 Classic duck house. Available in two sizes. From £285. Tel: +44 (0)1300 345229. www.flytesofancy.co.uk 7 Stockholm Duck Island. £2,585. Tel: +44 (0)20 7736 3464. www.birdpavilions.com 8 Wire egg basket, £13. Tel: 0845 2591359. www.notonthehighstreet.com
The English Garden
13
NEW SERIES
Talking techniques Sowing time
Toby Buckland begins his new column by planning for the future needs of his seeds
M
y annual struggle for space in the glasshouse is more intense than ever, thanks to another uncharacteristically cold winter. So, as well as trays of annuals for cutting - plum-coloured cornflowers and stripy ‘Mr Magestic’ calendulas - summer tomatoes and chillies, I also have reinforcements for the flowers that limped through the bitter cold of December. Like most gardeners I like to ‘have a go’ with plants at the edge and often just beyond what is sensible, and living in a house perched on a south-facing slope in Devon, the range I can experiment with (or, rather, waste my money on) is huge. At the moment, my favourite borderliner is a Madeiran, Geranium palmatum, a shortlived perennial with glossy green leaves, like a scaled-up Herb Robert. The following summer after sowing, it sends up a cloud of shimmering pearl-pink flowers, 1.2m high and wide on wiry stems clad in a velvet-pink down. This year I’m experimenting with a homemade potting-on mix for my seedlings, made from peatfree multipurpose and wormpost. Wormpost is the crème de la crème of soil improvers, not nutrient-rich but packed with life: invisible, microscopic friendly bacteria and fungi that boost plant growth by effectively increasing the rooting
IMAGE/COURTESY OF EBURY PRESS, GARDENERS’ WORLD PRACTICAL GARDENING HANDBOOK - JASON INGRAM
I vowed never to buy another new plastic pot... I figured with the hoard stashed under the potting bench I would never be desperate’ area. For a price, you can buy tubs of this natural elixir from garden centres, but it is more economical to make your own. I’ve had a wormcomposter (it looks like a stack of crates) for years, and it’s so simple to look after. In exchange for topping it up with shredded newspaper, leafy kitchen scraps and the occasional sprinkle of wood ash - the calcium stops the wormery becoming too acidic - a free bucket-load of wormpost collects in the bottom every year. Added to the peat-free at about a quarter by volume, I’ve found it really makes a difference to growth and makes easy-toover-water peat-free blends more forgiving.
Last year I vowed never to buy another new plastic pot. If I was desperate (and I figured with the hoard of cobweb-covered pots I’ve got stashed under the potting bench I never would be), I could source more from the many nurseries hereabout that run recycling schemes, relieving customers of their unwanted containers and selling them on to customers who do. This was only half the plan, as I also invested in a large pack of biodegradable 3in and 4in containers specifically for sowing and growing on seeds. Made from pulped cornstarch or miscanthus, after a two- to three-year working life they retire to the compost heap, or are buried
with the roots that occupy them straight into the borders where they quickly rot away - unlike plastic, which always end up in landfill. Another selling point is the range of tasteful colours they come in, from plum to olive green and baby blue. They’re just the thing for telling batches of seedlings that look the same apart, such as indoor and outdoor tomatoes, for example, or to monitor different blends of potting compost to find out which is the best. I don’t know how I managed so long without them!
Next month: Growing winter cabbages. The English Garden
15
THE GABRIEL ASH SUPERIOR GREENHOUSE
SAV E UP TO
SALE 40% Classic 8’x10’
Was £3,320 Now £2,650 Save £670
The only greenhouses endorsed by the RHS
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
£3,335
£595
£176
Classic 6’ x 8’
Hyde Hall 8’ x 10’
was £2,445 now £1,850
Patio Glasshouse
was £8,330 now £4,995
was £775 now £599
At Gabriel Ash, our superior greenhouses, are made from the finest Western Red Cedar, combining timeless simplicity of design, with the latest technology, and made with pride by master craftsmen. And right now in our Winter Sale, you can save up to 40%. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society - a Gabriel Ash greenhouse is machined to a furniture like finish, discreetly incorporating aluminium full ridge ventilation. Available in a range of sizes and styles to suit any garden, a Gabriel Ash greenhouse will remain a thing of beauty for years to come. Patio Glasshouses & Coldframes
Greenhouses
Lean To’s
For a brochure call
0800 0851 652
or visit our showroom at Monument Farm, Farndon, Chester CH3 6QP.
Shed Combi
Planthouses
Staging
gabrielash.com
APRIL IN ACTION
Bud and blossom at Houghton We follow the gardeners at Houghton Hall’s award-winning walled garden in north Norfolk as they continue their duties for the spring season, combining maintaining the crisp appearance of the garden with tasks such as pruning, planting borders, preparing beds and setting out potatoes PHOTOGRAPHS RICHARD HANSON WORDS JACKIE BENNETT
ROSE ARCHES ● The bare stems of the climbing roses are already starting to shoot and fill out. The skeleton of the galvanised rose arches will soon disappear beneath foliage and flowers. ● Climbers and ramblers (this is ‘Albéric Barbier’) need to be kept well fed and watered at this time of year. They are given a dressing of blood, fish and bone, mulched with compost and well-rotted horse manure.
herry blossom is sprinkled like confetti on paths this month (above). The trees (Prunus ‘Taihaku’) were planted only a decade ago but already are forming an effective ‘tunnel’. The long ‘closed season’ is officially over, and visitors arrive to see the historic house and gardens, which open from Easter Sunday onwards. The statues are unwrapped, paths are weeded and swept, lawns mowed and edges clipped into shape. In the walled garden, the vegetable beds are being prepared for planting and everyone on the team has to juggle the demands of keeping the garden in top condition while continuing to plant, prune and maintain the borders. Elsewhere at Houghton, owner Lord Cholmondeley is developing the grounds with an exciting collection of modern sculpture, and creating rides and walks to an original 18th-century plan.
C
17
▲
The English Garden
GROUND PREPARATION
IN THE VEG GARDEN
● Gardeners James (above) and David (below) spend many hours weeding and forking over the soil in the vegetable beds in preparation for planting. The beds are designed to look good as well as be productive, so attention to detail is paramount. Espalier fruit trees, including cherries, plums and apples, form an attractive boundary to this area. The trees will be netted very soon, particularly the cherries and plums, plus the gooseberries and blueberry bushes, which birds love. ● The vegetable plots are fed with a blood, fish and bone mixture, which is rotavated into the soil a week or two before planting.
SEASON TO SEASON The walled garden has thrown off the mantle of winter, and in the rose garden, the four Classical statues of Diana, Pan, Bacchus and Orpheus can be glimpsed in the spring sunshine.
SETTING OUT SEED POTATOES ● Lord Cholmondeley likes to grow a selection of modern and old-fashioned culinary varieties, and the team are planting ‘Rooster’, a good all-round red-skinned maincrop variety, and ‘Anya’ a slender salad potato with a nutty taste. Others tried include ‘Maris Peer’, with purple flowers, and ‘Arran Victory’, a maincrop with purple tubers that are white when cut open. ● The seed potatoes are ‘chitted’ in trays and put in a cool light place, encouraging them to produce shoots. This helps bring forward the crop by a couple of weeks. ● The chitted potatoes are kept strictly in their named batches, marked with large wooden labels (painted white to make them easier to see and less likely to lose). They are planted in trenches 10cm deep, with the shoots uppermost, and covered with a mound of loose soil.
18
The English Garden
APRIL IN ACTION
Meet the
GARDENER Working with Head Gardener Mhari Blanchfield is a team of full- and part-time gardeners. Charlotte Fry came to Houghton three years ago and takes special responsibility for the Orchid House. ● What were you doing before you came to Houghton? I worked for a garden design company while I was studying for my HND
The team juggles keeping the garden in top condition with continuing to plant, prune and maintain the borders
Amenity Horticulture at Easton College. ● What work do you enjoy most? Obviously the orchids are really special to me - they are just such a fascinating group of plants and really diverse. I am also involved in propagation, including seed raising and cuttings, which I enjoy.
DIAMOND BEDS
And best of all, I love fruit pruning. There is
● The diamond shaped box-edged
something so satisfying about getting those
beds beside the south wall have a
trees and bushes exactly right and I like that
changing display of colourful planting.
sort of precision work.
This season, they have been planted
● What do you enjoy least? Grass cutting.
up with a bright jewel-like mixture
I would rather do anything than grass cutting.
of wallflowers (Erysimum ‘Persian
Luckily I don’t have to.
Carpet Mix’) and tulips, including the
● What are you most looking forward to
pink and white ‘Carnaval de Nice’
this year? I am actually getting married in
and ‘Rococo’.
May and we are having the reception in the
● This planting will be lifted after
garden here, in a marquee near the stable block.
the tulips have finished and replaced
I am extremely privileged to be allowed to have
with a summer display of half-hardy
it on the estate, as this is not really a regular
pelargoniums and heliotropes, which
occurrence. I feel very lucky to work in such
have been raised in the glasshouses.
a magical place and can’t imagine having my ▲
wedding anywhere else!
APRIL IN ACTION
JOBS ON THE NOTICEBOARD
THE DOUBLE BORDERS ● The herbaceous borders run to 130m, from the glasshouse at the north end to the Rustic Temple at
IN THE MAIN BORDER
the south. They are backed by high yew hedges and are broken in the middle by a yew roundel. The borders at the north end are planted with hot colours, which grade to cooler blues and whites at the south end. Just visible now are the mounds of catmint (nepeta), grown at the front, the first silvery leaves of cardoons and splashes of dark red tulips. The oak rocket-shaped supports offer structures for roses to climb over.
UNDER GLASS ● ● ●
Mend loose or broken panes Repot orchids as needed Seed sowing and potting on
THE ITALIAN GARDEN ● Pleached limes surround the area known as The Italian Garden, which is divided into four sections, planted with plum trees and underplanted with spring bulbs such as pheasant-eye narcissus
FRUIT & VEGETABLES ● Set out maincrop and salad potatoes ● Continue planting onion sets ● Feed all fruit with a granular
nitrogen food ● Remove any remaining rhubarb forcers
FLOWERS & BORDERS ● Weeding - all borders ● Watch and spray for lily
beetle in the polytunnel and peony beds ● Prepare pots of geraniums, fuchsias and helichrysum ready to go out around the rose garden pond after frosts ● Seed sowing and pricking out ● Deadhead camellias in pots
LAWNS ● Cut lawns weekly ● Edge lawns weekly
20 The English Garden
and Camassia quamash. ● Over the years, the plum trees have not responded well to pruning, and this year are being replaced with two varieties of crab apple - Malus ‘Royalty’ (red) and Malus ‘Winter Gold’ (yellow) for spring blossom and autumn foliage.
The borders at the north end are planted with hot colours, which grade to cooler blues and whites at the south end
Coming up next month A diverse range of salads and vegetables are planted out, and the lilac and wisteria come into flower. Houghton Hall gardens are open from 4 April to 30 September; Wednesdays, Thursday, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays; 11.30am5.30pm. Tel: +44 (0)1485 528569. www.houghtonhall.com
SHOW PREVIEW
Great Spring Gardening Event Join us as we celebrate with the British Red Cross at its 13th annual garden show on 28 April at the stunning Eastnor Castle near Ledbury, Herefordshire his year, the much anticipated British Red Cross
T
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Great Spring Gardening Event will take place in the
splendid surroundings of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. Visitors will have plenty to see and do, with garden
● The Castle is 2.5
designers on hand to offer advice on layout and planting.
miles east of Ledbury
With over 100 stallholders (40 specialist plant nurseries),
on the A438
garden and home accessories, gardening equipment,
Tewkesbury road.
furniture and garden ornaments, it’s the perfect gardener’s
● Alternatively leave
day out. Food will also be a feature with stands offering a
the M50 at Junction 2
range of produce from olives, cheeses and preserves to
and from Ledbury
handmade cakes. In the Red Cross marquee, hot and cold
Detachment (VAD) nurse during the First World War, and
take the A449/A438
lunches will be served, with tea, coffee, cakes and open
later as President of the Herefordshire branch.
to Eastnor.
BOOKING AHEAD
on site and coach
rolls available throughout the day. The Eastnor Castle Café and ice cream parlour will also be open. Don’t miss the chance to come and say hello to The
● Parking is available A limited number of pre-booked lunches are available in
parties are welcome
English Garden team on our stand in the main stalls
the castle’s state dining room. To pre-book, call Eastnor
by prior arrangement.
marquee - we love to meet our readers and find out
Castle estate office on tel: +44 (0)1531 633160.
what you think about our magazine. In addition to the gardening show, you’ll have the opportunity to tour the castle, gardens and historic
GREAT SPRING GARDENING EVENT, 28 APRIL 2010
arboretum - containing a fine collection of 19th-century
Time: 10.30am - 4.30pm.
conifers collected from all over the world - which is
Admission: £7.50 or £5.50 after 1pm. Entry free for children under 12.
included in the entry price. This year’s link with Eastnor
Limited wheelchair access. Dogs are allowed on leads.
Castle is particularly poignant, as the current owner’s
Details: Call the Red Cross in Herefordshire, tel: +44 (0)1432 272522 or the
grandmother, Lady Finola Somers, was a life-long
24-hour recorded hotline : tel: +44 (0)7547 752197. www.redcross.org.uk/events
member of the Red Cross, starting as a Voluntary Aid
Go to www.redcross.org.uk/events or tel: + 44 (0)1432 272522
22
The English Garden
RAISED BEDS
❇
Editor’s
Choice
1
Which of these wooden raised beds is highest on the list?
IMAGES/HOWARD WALKER
T
here was I thinking that raised beds were a new thing. After a little research I’ve discovered that they were all the rage in the 1970s. There was a fashion for growing vegetables in mounded deep beds but heavy rain would often wash the soil away, so raised beds were used to confine the edges. I suspect that then most were made out of scaffold boards and pieces of spare wood, but now we are spoilt for choice with many purpose-built beds on offer. Growing in raised beds avoids heavy digging, and they are designed to be of a width so that the gardener never treads on the soil and therefore compacts it. There is an argument that raised
beds allow you to fit more crops into a space and the yields are often higher, but once a ‘wheelbarrow-wide path’ is placed between beds this is often not the case - this issue is a point of discussion between many gardeners. As they have solid sides, it does mean that covering crops with netting and fleece is often far easier; it’s so easy to net the top of a bed to keep the rabbits off the lettuce. When gardening on very stony ground, by raising the soil level with home-made compost, they have enabled me to grow straight carrots and parsnips. Raised beds can look rather smart and, if deep enough, allow you to grow crops on areas of hard standing (however, you do need to think about
drainage here). From my experience, they are perfect if you would rather hand weed than hoe, especially if you can perch your bottom on the edge. For those gardeners who are wheelchair bound, they make an incredible difference, and raised beds can be thanked for helping many people to garden who otherwise might not be able to. The beds in my selection are all made of wood and come in a range of designs. I’m impressed with how inventive some of them are because ultimately they are a very simple concept. I would prefer to pick one type of raised bed and stick to it to allow for a more organised looking garden. I’m all for them.
3
4 Raised beds can look rather smart and, if deep enough, allow you to grow on areas of hard standing
2 1
The 2-Plank-High Raised Garden Beds are
comes with an ingenious purpose-made fitted
available in many sizes, but all have a height of
membrane liner. These beds will surely keep the
4
360mm. They arrive flatpacked and are made of
slugs away. Backed up with a great website that
no bells and whistles but it works. Measuring
high quality FSC treated timber that should last for
offers growing advice. I’m thrilled to see such an
1.8m x 0.9m with a height of 220mm and made
15-20 years. I was impressed with the personal
inventive raised bed, so the Vegtrug is my
of high quality pressure-treated wood in the UK.
service offered and the quality of the beds, and it’s
EDITOR’S CHOICE. The 2m-long bed is priced at
Comes flatpacked and is simple to put together.
great to know that the company will build beds to
£149 for a natural finish, £199 for cornflower blue
Each corner has a wooden spike that holds it to
your requirements. The wider top edging is solid
or sage green finish. The 1m bed is priced at £99
the ground. Priced at £24.99 (plus delivery).
enough to sit on, which makes for easy weeding.
for natural and £129 for the coloured (plus delivery).
Prices start at £112 for the smallest H360 x L900 x W600mm (delivery costs start at £9 - beds can be delivered fully assembled for a fee).
3
The Raised Wooden Vegetable Bed is basic but does the job at a reasonable price. It has
The Recycled Works have some ingenious
The Small Herb Garden would make a
5
welcome addition to a courtyard garden and is
Raised Bed measures H300 x L900 x W900mm
raised beds and the Single Standard Deep
handy to have outside the back door. Made in the
and would be perfect for potatoes or showbench
The Vegtrug will appeal to younger gardeners
UK from sustainable timber painted in ‘bone’. The
roots. Made of FSC certified wood, the wooden
and has proved perfect for those in wheelchairs.
dimensions are H900 x L900 x W600mm and the
slats can simply be slotted in and out and the
The beds arrive as flatpacks and are made of treated
box is lined with plastic. My concern is drainage -
corner posts are perfect for attaching crop
timber sourced from sustainable plantation-grown
herbs like a well-drained soil so overwatering may
protection. There are also compost bins and
fir. They come with plastic feet to protect the wood
be an issue. On arrival simply screw the legs on.
other bed designs in the ‘slot-in’ range. From
and are a comfy height to work from. Each bed
Priced at £149.95 (delivery £9.95).
£52.16 (free UK delivery).
STOCKISTS ● 2-Plank-High Raised Garden Beds Available from The Raised Garden Bed Company. Tel: + 44 (0)1805 622661. ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT
2
www.raised-gardenbeds.co.uk ● Vegtrug For mail order, go to www.gardenbargains.com or call tel: 0845 4689689. For the nearest stockist, visit www.vegtrug.com ● The Small Herb Garden From Sparrow & Finch. Tel: +44 (0)1892 861202. www.sparrowandfinch.co.uk ● Raised Wooden Vegetable Bed Exclusive to Webbs. Tel: 0870 2250227. www.webbsdirect.co.uk
5
● Wooden raised beds from The Recycle Works. Tel: +44 (0)1254 820088. www.recycleworks.co.uk Please note that all the beds require some self assembly.
The English Garden
25
26 The English Garden
GLORIOUS GARDENS SUSSEX
Eleven days
OF HEAVEN PHOTOGRAPHS MARIE O’HARA WORDS CAMILLA PHELPS
Every year people flock to Pashley to place bulb orders, enjoy tulip displays, high tea and the splendid spring garden here.
The English Garden
27
▲
Pashley Manor’s annual tulip festival celebrates its 17th year this April, promising delightful displays with 22,000 of these cherished blooms
GLORIOUS GARDENS SUSSEX
he tulip is an extraordinary flower: rich, silky cups in hundreds of lustrous shades with enchanting variations of form. Yet while individually stunning, these blooms are even better seen en masse, bringing an explosion of carnival colours to spring borders. This is the visual feast you’ll find at Pashley Manor in East Sussex, where the gardens have become synonymous with tulips. At the end of April, the borders explode with sweeping drifts that frame views across the garden to the landscape beyond. Tulips lead you around the garden, through colourful rooms, bursting out of lowgrowing ground cover and containers, offering the perfect accompaniment to sculpture, seating and trees and shrubs not yet fully in leaf. No planted part of the garden is tulip free. Now in its 17th year, the planning, preparation and planting of the spring tulip festival underpins the rest of the gardening year for owners James and Angela Sellick and the team of seven gardeners, led by head gardener Keith Boylett. It’s a massive undertaking. Every November, around 20,000 Bloms bulbs are delivered, and, with reasonable weather, the gardeners can plant 1,300 in a day. But last year, with conditions that were completely unsuitable for bulb planting - first wet, then frost and snow - it was a real challenge to keep to the usual deadline of getting all the bulbs in by January. Getting the timing right is difficult. It’s crucial to ensure that the bulbs flower at the end of April and that they are at their prime throughout the 11 days of the event. New bulbs every year are essential in order to guarantee a high-quality show, but at Pashley there are no species bulbs as these tend to flower much earlier.
T
Tulips lead you around the garden, through colourful rooms, bursting out of low-growing groundcover and containers... No planted part of the garden is tulip free
28 The English Garden
ABOVE Tulipa ‘Shirley’ and Tulipa ‘White Dream’, underplanted with blue forget-me-nots, beneath the espaliered pear trees in the rose walk. LEFT A colour-themed mix of tulips in the ‘stellata’ bed at Pashley Manor.
▲
Keith says the best guarantee of flowering times is to plant a little later than usual. ‘In the early years, I used to worry about the flowering time,’ says James. But Keith, who has worked at the gardens for 14 years, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of tulips and a few tricks up his sleeve. The tulips are usually mid-season Darwin hybrids, guaranteed to flower at the end of April. Occasionally, a mystery bulb turns up, and one year 1,000 bulbs arrived that flower in early April and would have left a huge gap in the display. With no suitable substitutes available, Keith planted them deep, upside down and very late. By stalling their growth in this way, he was able to manipulate the flowering time. But this is a rare occurrence, and the quality of the display owes everything to meticulous planning. It all starts in September, when Angela and Keith survey the garden with Ronald Blom or his sons - James
Representatives from Bloms Bulbs are at Pashley for the 11-day festival, so visitors can place orders for tulips if they have seen some varieties they like, and get advice from those in the know.The bulbs are then posted out in autumn. All tulips in the gardens are clearly labelled. TOP LEFT Fringed white Tulipa ‘Honeymoon’. TOP CENTRE Star-blast Tulipa ‘Maytime’. TOP RIGHT Dark beauty Tulipa ‘Paul Scherer’. MIDDLE LEFT Delicate Tulipa ‘Freeman’. MIDDLE RIGHT The fabulous folds of Tulipa ‘Flaming Parrot’. BOTTOM LEFT Simple but divine Tulipa ‘Barcelona’. BOTTOM CENTRE Red-edged luscious yellow Tulipa ‘Jewel of Spring’. BOTTOM RIGHT The pointed petals of extraordinary bicolour Tulipa ‘Fly Away’.
GLORIOUS GARDENS SUSSEX
Tulips and Pashley are a perfect match - the garden rooms are strongly colour themed, so the extraordinary range offered by these bulbs fits perfectly with the garden’s design ethos OPPOSITE The Lutyens bed with, in top right-hand corner, pink tulip ‘Barcelona’ and white ‘Honeymoon’. Bottom right are mid-pink ‘Picture’, mixed with pale ‘Pink Diamond’. By the berberis are some ‘Palestrina’, and, top left, a mix of ‘Dreamer’ and ’Pink Dawn’. ABOVE Some of the 2,000 cut blooms on display. RIGHT Angela Sellick. FAR RIGHT Paul Blom (furthest right) giving advice.
The English Garden
31
▲
prefers to provide support and encouragement from the sidelines. The trio refer to plans from previous years, making selections based on Blom’s availability list, using tried-and-tested planting combinations and showcasing new and interesting varieties. It’s a far cry from the first year, when the Sellicks were persuaded to host the festival by friend and Daily Telegraph writer, the late Anne Cambell Dixon. She suggested a tulip festival in 1994 as a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first bulb in Britain. But it was February, and far too late to get any tulips planted. ‘Anne swept us into it,’ recalls James. He wasn’t especially fanatical about tulips and he confesses that there wasn’t a single tulip in the garden when he received that first enthusiastic phone call. At first quite incredulous that Anne could be thinking about a festival with such little time to plan it, he and his wife were ultimately persuaded; and in that first year, the displays were largely based around tulip paraphernalia - furniture, botanical art, china - with cut flowers and potted bulbs. By the second year, the Sellicks had found a passion for tulips and forged a relationship with Bloms Bulbs, and the festival became a firm fixture. ‘Now we get about 10,000 visitors over 11 days,’ says James. ‘But it has really made a huge difference to the whole garden. It shapes the planting for the rest of the year, because we have to keep the open spaces for the tulips and then replace with bedding plants to complement the perennials and shrubs in each bed. So I think it makes it much more interesting.’ Although not part of the original garden plans, tulips and Pashley are a perfect match. The garden rooms are strongly colour themed, so the extraordinary range offered by tulips fits perfectly with the design ethos.
GLORIOUS GARDENS SUSSEX
Signature combinations such as ‘Spring Green’ and ‘White Triumphator’ in the Elizabethan garden, and the complementary mahogany and gold colouring of varieties such as ‘Abu Hassan’ and ‘Helmar’ in the hot garden are favourites. For visitors, it’s a wonderful opportunity to see how you can get the best out of tulips in a garden environment, and to view how different varieties of tulips can work together, using height, form and colour to best effect. There are more than 90 different varieties, many planted in groups of up to 600 at a time; others in groups as small as 25. A Pashley favourite, ‘Shirley’ has become so over the past few years because of the dramatic change in colour as the blooms mature, from cream through white to lilac purple. Keith says: ‘We had them by the pool one year, which gets a lot of sun at one end, and you could see the full colour transition through the flowers in full sun to the ones in shade that were a week behind.’ In 2010, some of the stars of the show will be the purple ‘Maytime’; the white, fringed ‘Honeymoon’; and the bright red ‘Jane Packer’. Visitors can be inspired by the Pashley displays and then order from Bloms directly at the festival. While the garden revolves around tulips, there are also 100 varieties of roses and an annual rose weekend later in the year with experts from Peter Beales. Lilies also feature heavily in the late summer planting schemes. Other special events at Pashley include the ‘Sculpture in Particular’ festival, a kitchen garden weekend and a craft fair; but the main event in spring will continue to be the show-stopping tulip festival. Once the celebrations are over and the blooms begin to fade, the team at Pashley must face the challenge of digging up all the bulbs, and continuing the sequence
This style of gardening harks back to another era... the passion and enthusiasm shared by everyone at Pashley Manor for the festival is evident of colours with seasonal bedding. Planting the bulbs takes approximately four to five weeks, but lifting them can take six weeks or more. The gardeners do this work as early as possible so as not to allow any fading foliage to spoil future displays. The majority of lifted bulbs are donated to local schools, hospitals and hospices. There’s no doubt that in our low-maintenance times, this style of gardening harks back to another era, but the passion and enthusiasm shared by everyone at Pashley Manor for the festival is evident in the glorious displays of this wonderful bloom.
ABOVE An array of pinks and whites in the Lutyens borders with the white Tulipa ‘Sweet Love’ and the white with pink flecks Tulipa ‘Del Piero’ in the foreground. LEFT The nearly black Tulipa ‘Paul Scherer’, darker and closer to black than ‘Queen of Night’ according to Keith, and Tulipa ‘Fly
Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst, Near Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE. Tel: +44 (0)1580 200888. The tulip festival runs from Fri 23 April every day until bank holiday Mon 3 May. Garden open 1 April to 30 Sept; Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat, bank holiday Mondays and special event days; 11am-5pm. www.pashleymanorgardens.com 32 The English Garden
Away’ in the hot-coloured herbaceous borders.
GLORIOUS GARDENS SUSSEX
The notebook Pashley Manor Gardens cover 11 acres, largely southeast facing on a gentle slope into a shallow valley. The soil is a Wealden clay base with a layer of green sand on top, improved with compost
GROWING TULIPS IN POTS Keith says to start with fresh, general purpose potting compost and plant the bulbs nice and deep (15-20cm) and only use varieties under 48cm tall - this helps them stand firm in windy conditions. Use plenty of bulbs to get a good display. If you have a small pot you can layer the bulbs - you’ll find they grow up through each other and can flower at
FOR ARTISTIC TYPES
different times since the deeper bulbs will take a little longer to come up.
The festival attracts not just bulb lovers but botanical artists too, who take advantage of the masses of different blooms on show, like Sue Clarke (above).
ON SHOW The action isn’t just in the garden during the festival, as indoors
TULIP TIPS FROM PASHLEY
visitors will find about 2,000 cut
● Plant your bulbs as soon as you receive
tulips displayed in vases. Bloms
them (preferably through October and November,
bring more than 50 cut-flower
but it’s okay to plant in December too). Plant
varieties along to make sure every
them as deep as possible - between 5in and 8in.
possible vista involves tulips.
● If you want to delay flowering by a week
All of those varieties have to be
or so, simply plant bulbs on their side.
labelled, and here Sue prepares
● If you have wet soil put some grit in
the labels so people will know
the holes before you plant the bulb.
what is what (left).
● Once planted, ensure bulbs get plenty of water through January and February.
CONTACTS
● Although at Pashley we dig up the bulbs every year, if you are keeping your bulbs in the
OTHER PLACES TO SEE TULIPS AND TULIP SPECIALISTS
ground, then deadhead the flowers (but leave
● Bloms Bulbs at Chelsea Show Garden, Cambo Estate , St Andrews,
foliage) as soon as they fade, so they don’t
Fife KY16 8QD. Open from 29 April to 3 May. Tel: +44 (0)1333 450054.
waste any energy
www.camboestate.com
producing seeds,
● Chenies Manor Tulip Show Garden, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 6ER.
and all the energy
Mid-April to the end of May; Wed and Thurs; 2-5pm. Tel: +44 (0)1494 762888.
goes into the bulb,
www.cheniesmanorhouse.co.uk
ready for it to flower
● Constable Burton Hall, Leyburn, N.Yorks DL8 5LJ. Show Garden open from
again next season.
mid-April, with a special tulip festival from 1-3 May. Tel: +44 (0)1677 450428.
● After dead-
www.constableburtongardens.co.uk
heading, give the
NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES:
tulips a weekly liquid
● Hanbury Hall, nr Droitwich, Worcs WR9 7EA. Tulips in 18th-century garden.
feed until the foliage
Tel: +44 (0)1527 821214. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
dies back - again, to
● Lanhydrock, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 5AD. Tulips flowering during April and May
strengthen the bulb
in the formal gardens. Tel: +44 (0)1208 265950. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
for next season.
34 The English Garden
GLORIOUS GARDENS WILTSHIRE
Attention to detail ▲
This young garden has a mature personality, colour and confidence, thanks to the rigorous selection and prodigious talent of its fashion buyer owner PHOTOGRAPHS HEATHER EDWARDS WORDS JEAN VERNON
Priory House garden near Bath is a small but perfectly formed plot with colourful spring and summer borders, and wellplanned-out proportions.
The English Garden
35
LEFT,TOP TO BOTTOM Double pink Aquilegia ‘Spring Magic Rose and Ivory’; Tulipa ‘Abu Hassan’; Wisteria brachybotrys Murasaki-kapitan; Clematis ‘Early Sensation’. ABOVE Jenny’s back garden is southeast facing, laid to lawns and beds with a large pergola. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The plot to the front of the Georgian house; red and pink tulips with aquilegia; Tulipa ‘Dreamland’ and ‘Sorbet’ with camassias; wisteria and roses climb over the pergola.
ou never get a second chance to make a then it’s another third to the bottom of the garden.’ first impression, so it’s just as well that the Every plant has been chosen specifically to play a first glimpse of the garden at Priory House, part in the carefully orchestrated design. ‘The herbaceous near Bath, is so captivating, and only a border has been planned so that there is rhythm in tiny taste of so much more in store. The the planting. I do a lot of mirror-image planting - the ground before the Georgian façade showcases formal herbaceous border works because it is a mirror image, beds edged with box, overflowing with exquisite spring- and when you look around the garden you can see how flowering bulbs and pretty herbaceous perennials in a this other third is a mirror image of that, and so on. I fine tapestry of colour, texture and contrast. The neatly love symmetry. That’s why I love Georgian houses.’ clipped low hedges are punctuated with rich green When it comes to plants, Jenny takes no prisoners. box cones. ‘It’s a facsimile, an interpretation of one of If they don’t perform or simply don’t live up to the windows in the drawing room,’ says owner and expectations, they are unceremoniously dug up. gardener Jenny Woodall. ‘It’s a challenge for me to create a scheme,’ she says, The whole garden ‘and it never reaches links closely with the ‘It’s a challenge to create, and never reaches perfection. I always try architecture of the house to improve. I garden perfection. I’m always trying to improve it’ and proves Jenny’s eye with colour; colour is for colour and style, which has always served her well in my starting point, and if I have a plant that isn’t quite her career as a fashion buyer for John Lewis. With no the right colour, and it doesn’t quite tone with its next formal training in horticulture, but a profound appreciation neighbour, then out it comes, and I find something else and love of gardens, she has perfected a captivating and where the two plants work together. I am not very good enchanting garden that not only complements her period with anything that has an untidy habit either. I am a bit home, but also emphasises an intuitive understanding of of a control freak with my plants.’ perspective, colour and design. Jenny plans out everything, spending her evenings The success of this space lies not only in the looking through gardening books. ‘If I’m not absolutely simple proportions that Jenny has used to great effect, certain about what I want to plant in a particular spot, but also her clever use of repetition, symmetry and style. I will go through all my books again looking for ‘It’s all been done quite mathematically,’ she says. whatever it is that I particularly need or something ‘It’s a feeling I have without knowing why I am doing that will suit that situation.’ it. All I can say is that it’s a third to the edge of the With such dedication to detail, it’s no surprise that this terrace and then it’s a third to the end of the lawn and garden looks fantastic throughout the year, but in spring
Y
▲
GLORIOUS GARDENS WILTSHIRE
The English Garden
37
GLORIOUS GARDENS WILTSHIRE
38 The English Garden
OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Jenny keeps her garden neat and tidy, with perfect border edges; Rosa ‘Felicia’; delphiniums, Aconitum ‘Stainless Steel’, pale pink poppies and Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ delight in one of the beds. ABOVE Priory House itself was the starting point for Jenny’s design. RIGHT,TOP TO BOTTOM Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’; Iris ‘Master Touch’; Astrantia ‘Roma’; close-up of a blue delphinium flower.
▲
and summer especially, it really performs for its many older years, including two magnificent tulip trees, visitors, who come to see it under the NGS. In late a large magnolia and a dramatic flowering cherry that spring, the tulips add spice to the already burgeoning carpets the garden with white blossom in spring. The borders, and then by summer the swathes of herbaceous house and garden are within a conservation area, so perennials throughout the garden and drapes of roses the trees cannot be pruned without consent. ‘Anything on the pergola are simply breathtaking. In the open more than 2m tall, and we have to get the conservation season, there are plenty of plant combinations for officer in to see whether I can chop it down. Even visitors to admire and try to emulate. things that are not really beautiful, you have to ask The challenge of opening and making sure the garden permission for here.’ Because of this Jenny has had is neat and tidy keeps Jenny busy, but she still finds time to work around some plants that she might not to visit other gardens and flower shows. ‘I’m inspired by have kept, given the choice. other people’s gardens,’ she says. ‘I love Sissinghurst, It’s a challenge that keeps her on her toes, but one especially the anticipation of walking from one garden that she obviously thrives on, as she is continuously room to another, and working on new ideas with each one having Looking at the established borders, it is hard and evolving different a completely different parts of the garden. to believe that this is such a young garden theme and feeling of ‘It will keep me out atmosphere. I’ve tried to design this garden with various of mischief for the next 20 years,’ she laughs. ‘My sections, but because it’s a small garden it’s quite difficult; husband does always worry about what the next project there isn’t the space to plant great yews. But once will be. He can breathe a sigh of relief, however, because everything has grown, I hope you can’t see all of the I have actually run out of space!’ garden in one look, and you’ll need to walk around it to see the different aspects of it.’ Priory House, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LH. Looking at the immaculate lawn and established The garden is open for the NGS on 18 April and 1 August, borders, it is hard to believe that this is such a young 2-5.30pm, with teas and homemade cakes on offer. Find garden. Jenny and her husband Tim moved here just out more at www.ngs.org.uk six years ago, when the land at the back of the house It is also open for The Secret Gardens of Bradford on Avon belonged to a neighbour. The current back garden was on 30 May and 27 June, 2-6pm. For information, visit designed and planted more recently, only over the past www.bradfordonavon.co.uk four years, after they purchased the extra land. Turn over for garden notebook Several mature trees give the garden an essence of
GLORIOUS GARDENS WILTSHIRE
The notebook Priory House garden in Bradford on Avon covers two-thirds of an acre. It has good, friable soil, mostly acidic but with pockets of alkaline. The garden is in a conservation area PESTS WATCH OUT Jenny keeps a healthy population of slugs and snails at bay, as walls and hedges (below) provide shelter for these voracious pests. ‘But last year I made a small wildlife pond, and we had huge numbers of tadpoles, so presumably they have grown into frogs and ought to have been out working for me now!’
PICTURE PERFECT PERGOLA The herbaceous borders are delineated with a striking pergola that is clothed in summer climbers (above). It helps divide the garden creatively and adds depth
TULIP CHOICES
and structure to the design. ‘I wanted to go upwards,’
Jenny plants hundreds of tulips every
says Jenny, ‘and so the pergola that runs round the
year, such as dark ‘Abu Hassan’ and
garden has helped to break it up into areas, and once
orange ‘Prinses Irene’ (above). ‘I now
the roses have grown and become much more
plant the violet tulip ‘Van der Neer’
luxurious they help to make barriers.’
and T. ‘Apricot Beauty’ right through the garden. In one section I’m adding ‘Uncle Tom’, deep maroon red ones.
CONTACTS
In the borders, I’ll add a colour that
MAIL ORDER PLANTS
picks up what’s already in those beds.’
Jenny buys most of her plants by mail order from perennial specialists, including:
OWNER JENNY WOODALL’S HINTS AND TIPS
● Beth Chatto Mail Order Plants, Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7DB. Tel: +44
● I like planting in threes and fives, but I’ve been planting in fours recently, in
(0)1206 822007. www.bethchattoshop.co.uk
diamonds, because when planting in fives, well... where do you put that last plant?
● Claire Austin, Edgebolton, Shawbury,
● I’m quite strict with the plants: they have to stand upright and fit the design
Shropshire SY4 4EL. Tel: +44 (0)1939 251173.
in my head. I avoid sprawling unruly plants. One of the things I really make myself
www.claireaustin-hardyplants.co.uk
do is support everything.
● Irises from Cayeux, La Carcaudière, 45500
● In April, I cut my sedums down
Poilly-les-gien, France. Tel: +33 238 670 508.
so they don’t grow quite so tall
www.iris-cayeux.com
and collapse outwards. With
NURSERIES
sharp secateurs, I reduce them
● A La Carte Daylilies, Little Hermitage,
down to two buds.
St Catherine’s Down, Near Ventnor, Isle of
● I like to label everything because it
Wight PO38 2PD. Tel: +44 (0)1983 730512.
reminds me of what things are, and
www.alacartedaylilies.co.uk
because I’ve got a lot of things here
● Mead Nursery, Brokerswood, Near Westbury,
and sometimes I can’t remember what
Wiltshire BA13 4EG. Tel: +44 (0)1373 859990.
I’ve planted, especially in the winter.
www.themeadnursery.co.uk
● Labels are for the visitors and me.
● Pan-Global Plants, The Walled Garden,
I think there’s nothing more irritating
Frampton Court, Frampton-on-Severn,
than going to a garden and there’s
Gloucestershire GL2 7EX. Tel: +44 (0)1452
nobody about to ask.
741641. www.panglobalplants.com
40 The English Garden
Into the blue The oldest in the country, this garden and park have been neglected for many years. But a trust is now slowly breathing life back into the ancient family estate, a must-see for its amazing displays of English bluebells PHOTOGRAPHS CAROLE DRAKE WORDS PATTI O’BRIEN
GLORIOUS GARDENS CORNWALL
o gasp with astonishment is inevitable when you enter the Enys garden’s Parc Lye in May. Laid out before you is the largest stand of bluebells in all of the southwest. It’s not only the extent of the show that is unique, as although gnarled trunks and spring-clad boughs of mixed woodland frame the vista, hardly a tree actually punctuates the vast field of flowers. It’s certainly not a bluebell wood, and with a spread of five to seven acres, the word ‘glade’ is surely inadequate - you strive to rationalise the improbable vision, as you behold a lake of serene, shimmering blue gently lapping the shores of an ancient Cornish woodland. Undisturbed since medieval times, the extraordinary display may well have kindled the passion for flowers that inspired so many generations of the Enys family. Owners of this estate since the 13th century, their garden is the oldest recorded in the county. Countless venerable specimens characterise the pleasure grounds that surround the house, including a Peruvian laurel, one of the
T
magnificent sight of a carpet of bluebells is a seasonal highlight of the Enys garden. BELOW The gate that leads into Parc Lye, with bluebells and wild garlic.
The English Garden
43
▲
LEFT Something old, something blue: the
GLORIOUS GARDENS CORNWALL
ABOVE LEFT An arched gateway leads into the Colonel’s garden from the bluebell-covered woodland. TOP RIGHT The now-abandoned house that has been in the Enys family since the 13th century. ABOVE RIGHT A bluebell-lined path through the grounds at Enys, which, enjoying a mild, temperate climate, allows many tender plants and trees to thrive. BELOW LEFT Wisteria buds in the flower garden.
few specimens growing in England today, and a Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), said to be the tallest outside of Kew Gardens. Other status symbols of bygone eras endure, including a weathered 12th-century Cornish cross, hugely fashionable in 1848 when it was exchanged with the vicar of Sancreed for ‘a cartload of things’. Another treasure, now 200 years old, the Camellia japonica ‘Alba Plena’, was once so desirable it commanded 50 guineas (two years’ wages to the gardener that dug the hole). Its snow-white double blooms still grace the flower garden each spring, despite the glasshouse that was erroneously built to protect it having disintegrated long ago. Early last century, the plant collection here 44 The English Garden
burgeoned to more than 1,000 species as J.D. Enys, an inveterate traveller, sent home specimens and seed from his exploits in New Zealand. He was the first to introduce the Chatham Island forget-me-not (Myosotidium hortensia). A native of that island’s shores, special care is needed to keep the clumps happy in a British garden. The gardeners today incorporate sand into the soil to make it more free draining, and mulch the top with seaweed to feed and protect it. With a new world order established by two world wars, the estate’s fortunes and labour force fell into swift decline. A girls school briefly rented the house after the Second World War. When they left, Miss Enys (who had moved into the gardener’s cottage) locked
TOP LEFT The parkland, known as Parc Lye, is believed to be undisturbed since medieval times, and contains many ancient trees. ABOVE LEFT The lake is edged with bog primulas in pinks and whites. ABOVE RIGHT Part of the Enys estate, the old farmyard lies derelict and is now colonised by wild native plants. BELOW RIGHT Our native English bluebell is recognised by its distinctive arching stem, while invasive Spanish bluebells have an upright habit.
garlic, we pause for a moment for her to crush a leaf from the immense Peruvian laurel (Laurelia sempervirens) and enjoy its bayeucalyptus scent. She gestures with pride towards a champion Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Variegatus’ (twice the size you might expect) and a 16m-tall mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), before we head off towards the flower garden’s romantic enclosure. The horn of a boat booms, presumably from Falmouth, causing us to look up, over the parkland, into countryside. I realise that there’s not a building or a road to be seen - 21stcentury Britain seems totally remote - and how amazingly tranquil this garden is. Jane admits, though, that what’s lacking here is the human element, both labour force
▲
the doors a final time, and took down the sign at the entrance to the drive. The estate fell into a deep, long sleep. For six whole decades barely a human mark was etched. The ghost of a house became colonised by bats, the trout ponds by otters, and the garden by foxes, badgers and ever more birds. Meanwhile, less resilient plants perished, and wild flowers, Rhododendron ponticum and common laurel invaded. ‘It’s like a lost world,’ says Jane Spray, a descendent of the family who helps direct the Enys Trust, set up in 2002 to guide the garden into the future. Strolling through the pleasure grounds, between typically Cornish magnolias, camellias and azaleas, carpeted with bluebells, celandine and wild
The English Garden
45
ABOVE LEFT Wisteria arches over a fern seat in the flower garden. TOP RIGHT The flower garden features a mix of shrubs, trees and herbaceous plants - and, of course, bluebells. BOTTOM LEFT A metal pergola frames a central path, where tulips are planted for spring colour and a mature spreading acer provides a longer season of interest.
and people to appreciate the beauty, ‘but sensitively restored to oases of floriferous of primulas to extend the ribbon that lines it is a matter of keeping visiting numbers beauty; New Zealand plantings are reinstated a path along the ponds, and he leads guided down’. An odd wish for an open garden, in several areas; and 4,000 snakeshead tours. ‘It has given me so much pleasure,’ he but one that Danielle Dixon, the head says. ‘When you walk into some gardens, fritillary bulbs have been put into a lawn. gardener, understands perfectly. ‘There is a In a handy stroke of luck, Barry Champion, you’re frightened to step on the grass, but relaxed feeling here,’ she says. ‘We don’t the newly retired head gardener of the here it’s very relaxed - just lovely.’ want it to become Enys Garden Trust, St too commercialised ‘When you walk into some gardens, you’re frightened to step Gluvias, nr Penryn, and prissy.’ There is on the grass, but here it’s very relaxed and just lovely’ Cornwall TR10 9LB. little chance that Tel: +44 (0)1872 will happen while she has just one other paid helper, but with National Trust’s famous Trelissick garden, 274536. The garden and tea rooms are open from a dedicated band of volunteers, it is amazing instantly fell in love with Enys on a visit. April to September on Tuesdays and Thursdays, what this real live wire can achieve. The ‘This garden needs to be nurtured,’ he says, and the first Sunday of the month; 2-4pm. There invasive thugs have been whacked with ‘that’s why I find it so attractive.’ Barry is will be a charity open day on 9 May; 11-4pm. verve and determination; the flower garden now a volunteer, contributing immense Daily openings for the Bluebell Festival: 2-8 May, and walled scented garden have been knowledge as well as propagating hundreds 2-4pm. www.enystrust.org.uk 46 The English Garden
GLORIOUS GARDENS CORNWALL
The notebook Enys Garden covers between 30 and 40 acres, and has acidic clay soil. It comprises woodland plantings with ponds and flower gardens, old farm buildings and even a fascinating Victorian hydraulic system MANAGING THE MASSES If you want bluebells to spread, make sure the seed has dropped before you cut the spent stems and foliage. To contain them within clumps (which will grow bigger but not spread), cut the stems as soon as the flowers fade.
DANIELLE’S TIPS FOR BLUEBELLS FROM SEED ● Buy English bluebell seed from a reputable company so you don’t end up with hybrids of the super-invasive Spanish bluebell (which is larger and slightly paler). ● Sow in autumn in soil enriched with leafmould, and put in a cold frame. ● Ensure the seed remains cold and moist for at least two months, as it requires stratification before germinating in spring. ● The next autumn, plant the bulbs 8cm deep. They should flower for you within two years.
VIEWS IN THE SUN One of the first projects for
CONTACTS
restoration, the summerhouse
GARDENS NEARBY
(below), was rebuilt with timber from
● Lamorran Gardens, Upper Castle Road, St
the estate. It has far-reaching views
Mawes, Cornwall TR2 5BZ. Tel: +44 (0)1326
over the surrounding parkland and
270800. www.lamorrangardens.co.uk
beyond. Danielle Dixon plans to make
● Penjerrick House, Budock, Falmouth,
the most of the suntrap around it by
Cornwall TR11 5ED. Tel: +44 (0)1872 870105.
replacing cottagey Geranium
www.penjerrickgarden.co.uk
macrorrhizum and foxgloves with
● Trengwainton Garden, Madron, Penzance,
exotics like agave and aeonium.
Cornwall TR20 8RZ. Tel: +44 (0)1736 363148. www.nationaltrust.org.uk ● Trevarno Country Estate Garden, Crowntown, Cornwall TR13 0RU. Tel: +44 (0)1326 574274. www.trevarno.co.uk
FAVOURITE NURSERIES
BLUEBELL COMPANIONS
● Burncoose Nurseries, Gwennap, Redruth,
In a wild garden, primroses make an
Cornwall TR16 6BJ. Tel: +44 (0)1209 860316.
earlier spring display, then ramsons
www.burncoose.co.uk
(wild garlic) bloom white to contrast
● Duchy of Cornwall Nursery Plants,
with the blue (above). In a more formal
Cott Road, Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0HW.
setting, try white bleeding hearts
Tel: +44 (0)1208 872668.
(Dicentra spectablis ‘Alba’) or late
www.duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk
spring bulbs such as pheasants-eye
● Hardy Exotics Nursery, Gilly Lane, Whitecross,
narcissus or tulips like ‘Queen of
Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8BZ. Tel: +44 (0)1736
Night’, ‘White Truimphator’ and, for
740660. www.hardyexotics.co.uk
maximum colour, ‘Texas Flame’.
The English Garden
47
SPOTLIGHT
Focus on... Cornwall We take a trip to the southwest this month to visit tearooms, an elegant hotel with a twist, and stately home gardens
HAVE A BLEND IN BUDE The award-winning Rectory Farm Tearooms in the hamlet of Morwenstow, near Bude, offers cream teas and a varied menu using locally sourced, home-cooked produce. Choose from a delicious variety of cakes, soups, quiches, chutneys, Cornish pasties, cheese, jam and fish caught fresh from local
DELUXE GARDEN HOLIDAYS BY THE SEA
waters, not to mention a
The Nare Hotel in Truro is an elegant country house providing a superb hotspot for a classic English summer holiday
special menu for gluten-,
by the sea, as well as a retreat for quiet getaway breaks during spring, autumn and winter. The hotel hosts fantastic
wheat- and dairy-free diets,
short garden breaks from February to May every year, to local gardens including Tregothnan, Caerhays, Glendurgan
catering for everyones’
and Trewithen. April and May bring spring bulbs, rhododendrons and azaleas, while June and July offer bright
needs. Enjoy the large
displays of hydrangeas, agapanthus and summer planting. The package comprises four nights’ accommodation,
range of loose leaf teas,
dinner, breakfast, early morning tea, afternoon cream tea and tickets to three gardens of your choice. Carne Beach,
with The Rectory’s own
Veryan, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5PF. Tel: +44 (0)1872 501111 or visit www.narehotel.co.uk
house blend, ‘Smugglers tea specialists Camellia Budd and Tregothnan Garden, the first tea plantation in Cornwall.
‘With over 70 open gardens, Cornwall really is the garden capital of the world. Our mild sub-tropical climate nurses unique species of plants, trees and flowers that you would normally have to tread on foreign soils to find’ Julia Cox, Gardens of Cornwall www.gardensofcornwall.com
The tearooms are only a 10-minute walk from the
RIVER DEEP AT COTEHELE
cliffs, offering spectacular
Lose yourself in the valley garden at
views of the coastline.
Cotehele House. It has a medieval
Alternatively, you can visit
stewpond, dovecote, thousands of
Hawker’s Hut and the
daffodils, an upper garden at the top of the
Church of St John the
Prospect Tower, and orchards planted with
Baptist, which dates back
local apples and cherries. Complete your
to the 9th century.
day by visiting the discovery centre, which
Tel: +44 (0)1288 331251.
tells the story of the Tamar Valley, followed
www.rectory-
by a relaxing boat trip on the River Tamar.
tearooms.co.uk
Thurs, 11am-4.30pm.The garden is open all
Be sure to keep your diary free on Saturday 10 and Sunday
year from 10am until dusk. St Dominic, Nr
11 April for Cornwall’s Garden Society Spring Flower Show,
Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6TA.Tel: +44 (0)1579
held in the beautiful surroundings of the Boconnoc Estate,
351346. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
near Lostwithiel. Featuring colourful camellias, daffodils, rhododendrons, ornamental shrubs and trees, as well as displays on several of the county’s best known gardens, we’re certain you’ll have a fantastic day. Boconnoc Estate, Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0RG. For more information, tel: +44 (0)1209 714488. www.cornwallflowershow.co.uk
48
The English Garden
The house is open 13 Mar-31 Oct, Sat-
SPRING STARTS AT BOCONNOC
COTEHELE HOUSE/©NTPL - ANDREW BUTLER SPRING FLOWER SHOW/CHARLES FRANCIS COMPILED BY/VICTORIA KINGSBURY
Choice’, supplied from local
The English Garden 49
GLORIOUS GARDENS SOMERSET
The pergola at Watcombe is clothed in four different types of wisteria, and leads down to a small, peaceful ornamental pond.
A secret no more ▲
Behind high walls and closed gates, this outstanding garden never got to show its true colours to the world, a crying shame now rectified by its new owners’ open-door policy PHOTOGRAPHS MARK BOLTON WORDS STEPHANIE MAHON
The English Garden
51
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT The Owens have many fruit trees throughout the garden; Wisteria floribunda ‘Violacea Plena’, a double variety, is just one of the five kinds here; Iris sibirica; Paeonia × lemoinei ‘Souvenir de Maxime Cornu’. BELOW Watcombe‘s garden features unusual topiary and great specimens such as this Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’, on left.
aphne du Maurier, perhaps, could not have imagined it better. Her blend of intrigue, melancholy and redemption would have perfectly suited the tale of Watcombe, a house and garden not far from Banwell Castle in Somerset. Its story has all the makings of a captivating, if tragic, page-turner, ending with a message of hope and charity. It would be a book about a sheltered, unknown wonderland, the result of a pure and consuming dedication, finally revealed to all to be admired and enjoyed. The present owners, Peter and Ann Owen, probably don’t see the case as quite so dramatic and romantic, but they were instantly taken over by the place when they went to view it nine years ago. ‘The estate agent opened the tall wooden gates and we walked through,’ admits
D
Ann, ‘and that was it. I didn’t even need to see the house. We bought the house because of the garden.’ This sentiment would be no surprise if expressed by avid hardened gardeners, but the Owens, though not without green-fingered impulses, had never gardened on quite this scale before. They had always had a garden, but this is a whole different thing. Now, they own a National Garden Scheme garden, a creature that demands as much hard work and attention as it gives joy and satisfaction. This transition from being people who like to garden to people who garden full-time was eased by the then gardener, Danny Webber, who continued his weekly visits to Watcombe until two years ago, and his brotherin-law, Jon Saunders, the present gardener, who had also worked on the garden before, for the previous owner. With such steady heads and hands guiding the Owens,
in 1937. The garden was created from surrounding plots of land bought piecemeal, as they became available. This is the reason for the ‘rooms’ - an accidental side effect of buying the garden in parts, though while walking around you never question that it was a purposeful design choice. The family consisted of a couple and their daughter. They became known locally for their exceptionally private ways. ‘Nobody ever saw the garden because of the high walls and large wooden gates,’ says Peter. ‘The daughter lived here all her life. She never had a job, or got married. Her life was spent looking after her parents, and the garden. It was a bit of a tragedy, actually.’ ‘She must have been quite content with it, though,’ says Ann. ‘Jon told us that he used to arrive to find rows and rows of plants lined up, ready to go in. She put everything into the garden - it was her whole world.’
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Pink Beauty’; Wisteria floribunda ‘Rosea’; an aquilegia; the blossom of Malus domestica ‘Crawley Beauty’. BELOW The lime walk in sping with Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’ and ‘Mount Fuji’, suggested by the Owens’ friend Don Barnes, who wrote the book Daffodils.
▲
taking on Watcombe’s grounds was not as frightening and overwhelming as it might have been. A garden of many rooms, set in a mostly classical, formal style with Arts & Crafts influences, its proportions and scale are welcomingly human sized; its lines and features assured and restful. There is always much to do here, whatever the time of year, and plenty of interest in every season. In spring, however, it really comes into its own with masses of bulbs and blossom through every vista. The statuary, hedges and walls, topiary, lime walk and hornbeam allée, ponds and paths and pergolas all offer a strong structure, but this is beautifully balanced with soothing complementary planting and pleasing pockets of unexpected abandon. The original layout and landscaping were designed by the previous owners, a family who had bought the house
GLORIOUS GARDENS SOMERSET
to have a look, and now they come back year after year.’ Some of their friends in the village have formed a team of helpers for open days, an absolute necessity when offering walkabouts, teas and cakes, and selling plants to visitors. ‘There’s more to opening a garden than anyone ever thinks,’ says Ann, ‘having it looking good on the day, the time it takes to organise, making the plants and the food.’ In spite of the tough schedule, this couple couldn’t put Watcombe back behind closed doors, and feel a real responsibility to let others in to experience it. As with all the best gardens, they don’t even feel it is entirely theirs - rather, in their care, and actually owned by the hearts of the many visitors who fall for its charms, an entity unto itself, to be shared, after so many years in a solitary shroud. A real secret garden, now ready to be discovered.
OPPOSITE A path from the Neoclassical summer house to the door of the vegetable garden is lined with white tulips and Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ in spring. BELOW LEFT The ‘one-armed bandit’ statue is a perfect focal point across the pond at the end of the pleached hornbeam allée. BELOW RIGHT Red-flowered Crinodendron hookerianum welcomes at the door to the greenhouse path.
Watcombe, Church Rd, Winscombe, Somerset BS25 1BP. Tel: +44 (0)1934 842666. Open for the NGS Sun 25 April and 16 May, and Wed 9 June; 2-5.30pm. Visitors also welcome by appt April to August. www.ngs.org.uk
Turn over for garden notebook
▲
When she sold Watcombe to the Owens, she told them of her plans to move to the south of France and create her own Mediterranean garden, uninfluenced by her parents. She died, however, before realising that dream. ‘We went to her funeral,’ says Ann, ‘and what we found sad was that the only people there were her gardeners, builders that had worked for her, the man who rented the field opposite, and six members of her legal team.’ The social incapacities or unwillingness that led to this heartbreaking end yet do good, by illuminating the rewards she reaped in the internal world of her garden, created and tended as fully as if it were kith, kin and career in one. It now becomes her legacy, the lasting mark and memory of what mattered most to her. Unable to keep such a work of art and lifetime’s toil to themselves, Peter and Ann were eager to open up the garden and share Watcombe with the world. They took down the tall wooden gates - ‘That was such a shock to people,’ says Peter. Soon, locals were wandering past at a very slow pace, rubbernecking at the inside of the place that had for so long been a locked-down enigma. ‘When we opened for the NGS for the first time, they were queuing to come in!’ exclaims Ann. ‘They were all dying
‘Nobody ever saw the garden because of the high walls and large wooden gates... When we opened for the first time, they were queuing to come in!’
The English Garden
55
GLORIOUS GARDENS SOMERSET
The notebook Watcombe garden in Winscombe covers about three quarters of an acre. It is split into several rooms and includes a vegetable patch, small orchard and a glasshouse. It is mostly north facing, with neutral to alkaline soil SHAPE SHIFTERS The garden is home to some interesting topiary forms, including this stepped peacock on the front terrace (below). Many of the more ambitious shapes are supported in places by wire, and clipped annually.
EDIBLE WALLS Some of the rooms are separated with not walls, but espaliered fruit trees such as this Malus domestica
CACTUS CORNER
‘Discovery’ (above). This is a perfect way to have a
A section of the glasshouse is taken up
boundary that also provides interest through the
by Peter’s cacti (above) - an accidental
year with blossom and leaf, and then a scrumptious
hobby collection started by a gift and
edible reward come autumn.
now added to by friends and visitors. The glasshouse is also home to over-
CONTACTS
wintering plants and pots of seedlings.
OTHER GARDENS IN SOMERSET ● Badgers’ Acre One acre NGS garden with colour-
GARDEN CAUSE
themed borders, shade lovers, pond, rockery and
Plant sales on open days at
potager. Visitors by appt 1 April to 31 Aug. Stone
Watcombe go to the
Allerton BS26 2NW. Tel: +44 (0)1934 713159.
Owens’ chosen charity, the
● Montacute House Formal gardens with roses,
Alzheimer’s Society. Having
mixed borders and sculpted hedges. Montacute,
lost people to the disease,
Somerset TA15 6XP. Tel: +44 (0)1935 823289.
both Peter and Ann feel
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
strongly about supporting
SPECIALIST NURSERY
the Society, and have found
● Chew Valley Trees Ornamental trees, shrubs,
that people often buy plants
hedging and fruit trees. Winford Rd BS40 8HJ. Tel:
or give more when they
+44 (0)1275 333752. www.chewvalleytrees.co.uk
find out what the cause is.
TIPS FROM JON, ANN AND PETER ● When you move to a new garden that is established, wait a while before taking things out. We waited almost two years, and were rewarded with five different tree peonies and four types of wisteria, among others. It was great fun because things just kept on appearing! ● Go to visit lots of other gardens, because you will always learn something. ● Don’t be afraid to prune things. We have to be quite brutal with some plants in our garden, such as Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’ and Lespedeza thunbergii ‘Summer Beauty’, and must really hack them back. ● We have problems with slugs in many areas of the garden. To help save clematis, we create a collar from a plastic pot with the base cut out, place it over the new growth, and put some slug pellets inside. ● Annuals are valuable colourful additions to beds, and we love schizanthus, ‘poor man’s orchid’.
56 The English Garden
FREE Burgon & Ball Fork and Trowel set when you subscribe to The English Garden
WORTH
£19.95RRP FR EE WHEN YO U SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to The English Garden and enjoy this Burgon & Ball Fork and Trowel set for FREE, plus save up to 31% off the full price! 12 issues a year for just £16 every 6 months by Direct Debit, or £34 by credit or debit card The Burgon & Ball sky blue Hand Trowel and Fork have stainless steel bodies with painted hardwood handles, presented in a beautiful plywood drum - the perfect tools to get started on your spring garden, in classic style and of high quality.
Subscriber benefits ● FREE Burgon & Ball fork and trowel set ● SAVE an incredible 31% off the retail price by Direct Debit ● Never miss a single issue ● Get each issue delivered FREE, direct to your door
DON’T MISS OUT!
TO SUBSCRIBE AND RECEIVE YOUR FREE GIFT VISIT www.subscription.co.uk/englishgdn/PA04 or CALL 01858 438840 and quote PA04
Terms and conditions: All savings shown are based on the cover price of £3.90 per issue. This offer is available to the UK only. Gift available while stocks last. For overseas subscription rates, please call +44 (0)1858 438840 or visit www.subscription.co.uk Offer ends 13 April 2010.
58 The English Garden
DESIGN GUIDE PLANTING
JEKYLL GENIUS ▲
Hidden away in the woods of Surrey, Vann is a design gem, which Gertrude Jekyll helped to plant and generations of the same family have gardened PHOTOGRAPHS MARIANNE MAJERUS WORDS JACKIE BENNETT
The English Garden
59
DESIGN GUIDE
S
ited down winding lanes in the wooded backwaters of Surrey, Vann is a timberframed 16th-century farmhouse. Its origins go back to Domesday, and it’s magical enough in its own way, but for anyone interested in landscapes and gardening, the really interesting part of its history begins in 1907, when W. D. Caröe bought it and added wings in the Arts & Crafts style of the day. Everyone who visits asks owner Mary Caröe the same question: ‘Is it Lutyens?’ The answer is no - the renovation of the house and the layout of the garden were all down to ‘W. D.’, a successful architect. The great plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll was a neighbour (she is known to have worked in more than 150 gardens in Surrey). Mary suspects that it was through word of mouth that W. D. invited her to Vann. ‘The only evidence is in the plant records, which show that she brought 1,500 plants from her own nursery at Munstead Wood for the water garden in 1912,’ says Mary. The field pond that forms the heart of the water gardens is natural, and Jekyll developed an area below it to create waterfalls, bridges, banks and pools, which were all planted with her well-known palette of plants 60
The English Garden
Garden profile PLACE Vann, Hambledon, Godalming, Surrey GU8 4EF. Tel +44 (0)1428 683413. Open for NGS, 5 April, 2-6pm; and 6-11 April, 2-9 May and 6-13 June, 10am-6pm. www.vanngarden.co.uk
DESIGNER Garden layout by W. D. Caröe (1909). Gertrude Jekyll designed and planted the water garden (1912)
SIZE Five acres STYLE Woodland and water gardens with more formal areas of hedging and herbaceous planting around the Tudor and Arts & Crafts house.
such as ferns, hellebores, leucojums and Darmera peltata. Above the pond, a rill leads through the ‘yew walk’, a Caröe design. Despite the fact that the details of the rill’s construction, such as the dry stone walling and on-edge tile bridges, are very Jekyll-esque, the only existing drawing for this feature was done by W. D. The old garden, which is a courtyard formed by the original house and
the 1907 extension, is a pretty area with original brick paths that have stood the test of time. The garden has been developed by Mary and her husband Martin, W. D.’s grandson and the third generation of Caröe architects. The couple came to Vann in 1969, and were the first people to live in it full time. From 1948, the land had been used as a market garden and nursery. ‘We worked on it piecemeal, clearing areas and then planting up what we thought we could manage,’ says Mary. This process still continues today - nothing stands still in this historic garden. The yew walk, for example, had been planned as a rose garden, but Mary and Martin replaced the roses with foliage plants. They also cut out three large island beds in the open grass of the orchard, and created new double herbaceous borders. Jekyll would doubtless have approved of the white garden, which begins the year with snowdrops, hellebores, narcissi and fritillaries. Spirea, viburnum and late philadelphus create the shrub cover. But just in case the great lady should overshadow the original architect and owner, last year a Centenary Garden was planted to commemorate W. D. Caröe and his arrival at Vann.
ILLUSTRATION/NEIL GOWER
PLANTING
Natural pathways Vann is a garden that invites strolling, with meandering paths that lead around the house, through the orchard and down to the ponds and wild areas.
YEW WALK In spring, the rill almost disappears beneath clouds of aquilegia and euphorbia (above). Clipped mounds of yew stand sentinel on either side and visitors can walk the grassy paths beside the tall yew hedges, laid out in 1911 by W. D. Caröe. THE ORCHARD The grass is left long beneath the fruit trees (left), which include plums, pears and ‘Sturmer Pippin’ apples. A wide mown path is easy to maintain and good for access.
Gertrude Jekyll made pathways in the local Bargate stone to wind through her favourite plant combinations
THE BOUNDARY Looking out from the wood into the Surrey countryside, beech hedges,
THE WATER GARDEN Pathways made
a picket fence and two upright beech trees
by Gertrude Jekyll in 1912 using the local
frame the view (above).
Bargate sandstone wind through her favourite plant combinations: ostrich ferns
THE OLD GARDEN Euphorbia characias
(Matteuccia struthiopteris), hellebores and Darmera peltata (above). Many of her
path and the L-shaped beds are defined by
choices, such as the darmera and heliotrope,
clipped yew hedges and blocks of head-
have proved to be rampant and need to be
height hornbeams (right).
kept under control.
▲
subsp. wulfenii straddles the original brick
Santolina is a plant used
Yucca gloriosa, a Jekyll
Forget-me-nots are
Alliums thrive in the
throughout the garden,
favourite, gives a bold
something of a signature
neutral soil and make
wherever a mound of
focus to the border and
plant at Vann and are
strong upright forms
soft, silvery grey-green
contrasts with the frothy
allowed to form colonies.
on the sunny side of
foliage is needed. It has
planting around.
When they do get
the border.
the added benefit of
a bit exuberant, they
being aromatic and
are easy to uproot.
can be clipped into rounded mounds.
62 The English Garden
DESIGN GUIDE PLANTING
Bergenias are great
Left to grow long, the
Meadow species
kept trimmed and is
garden stalwarts. They
orchard grass has plenty
thrive among the
wide enough to allow
can be planted on the
of natural seedheads. It
grass including field
two visitors to walk
edges of beds as their
will be cut down in July
buttercups, cow parsley
side by side.
rounded leaves provide
when the grasses have
and Cardamine
ground cover for most of
had time to set seed.
pratensis.
the year and have lovely autumn tints.
The island beds When the Caröes moved to live at Vann full time, much of the garden had been used as a nursery and market garden. The vast areas of ground that had once been in production needed to be refigured to a more garden-like scale, so three substantial island beds were cut out of the grass and planted with trees, shrubs and perennials. This one nearest the yew walk still looks in great shape, despite the fact that island beds fell out of favour in the latter part of the 20th century. Paths mown through the long grass give it a 21st-century twist and the planting has been changed over the years.
▲
The mown path is
DESIGN GUIDE PLANTING
Shady wetland plants Gertrude Jekyll’s list for the water garden still survives, but has been amended and added to over the years.The area gets lots of shade from tall oaks and beech trees.The soil is neutral.
BLUE NOTES Surrey is one of the most wooded counties in England, and a good place to see bluebells growing in gardens and in the wild. Here, Mary Caröe has grouped them around the base of an old acer (above). BESIDE THE STREAM Hostas, pulmonarias and ostrich ferns are some of the main components of this planting on the bank of the stream (left), covering the ground very effectively.
Surrey is one of the most wooded counties in England and a good place to see bluebells, in gardens and in the wild
DESIGNER PROFILE ● Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) is best known for the gardens she designed in collaboration with architect Edwin Lutyens. Active throughout the Arts & Crafts movement, she worked on some 400 gardens, introducing her particular style of colour-coordinated planting. Hestercombe and Barrington Court in Somerset are well-known Jekyll gardens, but she also worked at 150 private gardens in her home county of EVER UPWARDS Mary has planted gunnera
Surrey, including Vann.
beside the water (above), where the extensive
Mary Caröe is chairman of the Surrey
leaf canopy makes a striking feature as the
Gardens Trust, which is cataloguing
season progresses. Beneath it, the jagged
these gardens, where Jekyll carried out
leaves of Rheum palmatum are equally
hard landscaping as well as planting.
as eye catching.
Copies of her drawings are held in Godalming Museum. For more
GREEN AND WHITE The fresh new fronds of
information on Jekyll, her gardens and
Matteuccia struthiopteris mingle with the white
drawings, go to www.waverley.gov.uk
flower heads of wild garlic (right).
or www.surreygardenstrust.co.uk
64
The English Garden
There are sheds… then there are Posh Sheds There are hundreds of sheds on the market to choose from but their quality varies enormously and most look the same. At The Posh Shed Company it's different... We design and build wooden sheds of the highest quality that will not only stay dry inside and are secure,but above all look good. 01568 709103 | www.theposhshedcompany.co.uk
Stan Fairbrother Bespoke Architectural Garden Structures
HAND CRAFTED WESTERN RED CEDAR GARDEN RETREATS For the finest in summerhouses, gazebos, outdoor offices and garden studios visit our website to inspire yourself with designs for your own garden hideaway, or telephone for our brochure. 01772 814274 WWW.STANFAIRBROTHER.CO.UK
66 The English Garden
DESIGN BOOK PLANTING
LEFT Tulips add contrasting seasonal colour to this yellow and green scheme. BELOW Rhododendrons are perfect for acid soils, introducing colour and interest to a May garden - azaleas, camellias and acers also thrive in these conditions.
PLANTING POINTERS
The English Garden
67
▲
LEFT/ANDREW DUFF RIGHT/JOHN CAMPBELL
Designing your own planting scheme is exciting, says Andrew Duff, garden design director at the Inchbald School, and offers the potential to change your garden when you want
T
he really wonderful thing about planting is that you can constantly change it. I use my own garden to try out new plants and different planting styles - it keeps the garden fresh, and also means that I am not practising on my clients. At the beginning of a new planting project, the first thing to establish is what you actually want out of your planting. You are basically creating a brief. While you may have created a brief for the design of your garden, I find it helps to also set a brief for the planting. There are a number of things you need to think about. First of all, what you want the planting to do - are you after a scheme that is green, or heavily scented in the summer, or has good winter interest? Most of the answers to these questions will come from how and when you use the garden. For example, if you are using the garden in the evening, there is nothing better than the scent of a daphne or wintersweet in spring.
DESIGN BOOK PLANTING
TOP LEFT The soft, frothy foliage of cottage-style plants is ideal for softening path edges. ABOVE It is worth considering what plants look like when they’re not in flower - here, different foliage textures and leaf shapes work well together. TOP RIGHT Dense planting is an effective way to merge boundaries and beds together, and brings the landscape beyond into the garden to create an illustion of a bigger space. BELOW LEFT Evergreen topiary creates year-round interest in a border. Herbaceous plants and bulbs can be interspersed for seasonal interest. BELOW Prairiestyle planting is a popular, low-maintenance choice for many gardeners, providing great summer and autumn colour. BELOW RIGHT Euphorbia, a brilliant plant for borders, has a poisonous sap that can irritate the skin.
FINDING INSPIRATION
Once you have come up with this brief, you will find it much easier to start to choose your planting. Look through gardening books and magazines to help you decide what style you like. Though some of the gardens you’ll see appear to be very grand, 68 The English Garden
don’t be put off, as most schemes can be simplified or tailored to meet the size and style of your plot. Cut out the photographs you like and stick them onto a board or into a scrap book to create a visual brief for colour, texture and form. This is a guide only - the chances are that most of the gardens you’ve chosen will be in different parts of the country, or indeed the world, so your soil type will not be the same. We are using these images as a guide for colour, texture and form. Next, assess what you already have in your garden or in the area to be planted. You might have an existing tree or some plants that you do not want to remove. It is best to be ruthless at this stage, otherwise you will end up with a mismatch of different plants and an incohesive scheme. Do not be afraid to move plants: most happily grow back after a severe cutting down and transplant. Some even grow better. Do not be too sentimental either and feel that you have to keep plants that were Christmas presents or gifts from friends. The next thing to think about is your soil type.
Whether you are on alkaline or acid soil will make a difference to the choice of plants you can have. For example, rhododendrons need acid soil. Alkaline soil suits lime-tolerant plants such as beech trees and Mediterranean-style plants. Look around: it is a good idea to see what grows well in your neighbour’s garden - it’s a sure indication of what will thrive in your own. Once you know what your soil type is, it’s generally half the plant choice removed, which makes choosing plants much simpler, as the list gets shorter. OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND
Don’t be afraid to get planting. Just relax - what’s the worst that can happen? A few colour clashes? Not enough height in a border? Your favourite plant being incompatible with your soil? Think of your new planting as a great opportunity to experiment, and remember that nothing you do has to stay the same forever. Find Inchbald School of Design at www.inchbald.co.uk
IMAGES/ANDREW DUFF
Perhaps you only use the garden in the summertime. If this is the case, a predominance of summer-flowering plants would be best. As a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea to think all year round. Most of us are put off by evergreens, but in fact they are invaluable at providing seasonal interest throughout the year. You can then punctuate this with plants that do exciting things throughout the seasons. Think also about who uses the garden - if you have children, it is particularly important to make sure that you do not have any poisonous plants. It is not just the eating of them that can cause a problem - many plants, such as euphorbia, have a very poisonous and irritable sap.
Testing the waters Would you consider a natural swimming pond in your garden? Vicky Kingsbury finds out what makes them interesting, how they work, and gets advice from those who have already taken the plunge
70 The English Garden
DESIGN FEATURES NATURAL SWIM PONDS
LEFT Swim ponds are inspired by nature and blend well into country settings. ABOVE The ponds are versatile and each one is individually
I
The English Garden
71
▲
THIS PAGE/LYNN KEDDIE TOP RIGHT/WOODHOUSE NATURAL POOLS
designed for its garden.
magine the scene - enjoying the summer sun with friends and family in your back garden, with the added bonus of being able to swim in the clear, fresh waters of a swimming pond, with absolutely no chemicals. Think of the incredible sense of peace and tranquillity you would feel bobbing about in the water, knowing that while you are relaxing you are also being good to the environment and kind to your skin. Inspired by nature, the swimming pond was first introduced to the UK at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2001. Although still a relatively new idea in this country, it is well known and extremely popular in Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria, and is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional swimming pool. Today, the huge success of swimming ponds has spread around the world, with many now found in gardens in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There is no fundamental difference between a swimming pool and a natural swimming pond; they are technically the same, and offer exactly the same possibilities when it comes to swimming. However, a swimming pond has the benefits of looking more natural because it’s surrounded by aquatic plants, while a swimming pool brings a more traditionally luxurious feature to the garden. If a swimming pond is something you have been considering, then you might be pleased to hear that only basic maintenance is required, as the pond’s filtration system does almost all of the work. The skimmer or filter system will need emptying every now and then, and any leaves or pond weed on the surface water will need to be collected, but this is no different to a normal swimming pool. A pond like this is made up of two main components: the swimming area and the regeneration zone, separated by an internal wall. The regeneration zone contains plants that help purify the water, and also add nutrients and minerals, which after a swim leave your skin feeling clean, silky and smooth - unlike after a chlorinated swim.
The right choice of aquatic plants for your pond is essential, not only for the pond but to also suit the theme of your garden. Good examples include a variety of water lilies, Phalaris arundinacea var. picta ‘Feesey’, Gunnera manicata, Caltha palustris and Pontederia cordata. It’s important to cut and remove any faded foliage in the autumn to avoid the plant material rotting down in the water and unbalancing nutrients levels the following spring. A natural swimming pond is an excellent leisure spot but can also provide a home for wildlife such as frogs, toads, beetles, newts and dragonflies - but don’t worry, they will have left the pond by the time the water heats up and you want to dip your toes in. Birds come close to the water to drink, while at night local bats find rich sources of food in the insects that live around the edge. If you already have a swimming pool, pond or lake, you can easily convert it into a natural swimming pond. All ponds are individually designed and have low maintenance costs. There are no attached health risks, they are educational for children and are an attractive feature all year, as they don’t need cover in the winter. So what’s stopping you? Get planning now for super summer swims!
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS ● Write down any inspirations or ideas you might have for your swimming pond. ● Organise a consultation with a professional swimming pond company - see our list, opposite. ● Site appraisal - the company will look at factors
ABOVE With decking
such as boundaries, surrounding landscape, soil
around the edge, it’s easy
type, existing structures and views from the house.
to just sit, paddle and
● A plan will be drawn up to assess the opportunities.
enjoy the scenery.
● Design and technical proposal - this includes planting plans and specifications for the project. ● The swimming pond is constructed. ● A guide to maintenance will be given.
CASE STUDY ONE: HAMPSHIRE - WOODHOUSE NATURAL POOLS The Bell family live in a Georgian house with about an acre of garden. Their garden had no real water feature and was a classic 19th-century rectory garden with a parterre designed in 1868, leading to a long walk with views over the neighbour’s estate. One area of the garden had been infested with long-standing honey fungus, and needed to be dealt with, so it was suggested a natural swimming pond would suit the Mediterranean theme of the house and garden combined (left). ‘We use the pond mainly between April and September, and we were advised that we couldn’t have fish in a natural swimming pond,’ says Mr Bell.
summer seasons,’ he explains. ‘The trickiest task is to feed the water lilies, which requires pushing the food pellet into the rootball - I normally wait until the summer to do this. Apart from that we enjoy the pond to its full potential.’
72 The English Garden
TOP RIGHT/ZARA NAPIER
‘Although the pond isn’t heated by anything but the sun, it’s amazing how warm it can get - reaching around 21ºC, even during the past two very wet
DESIGN FEATURES NATURAL SWIM PONDS
CASE STUDY THREE: SUFFOLK - THE SWIMMING POND COMPANY Tim and Chris first became keen on swimming ponds when a friend cut some articles out of a magazine explaining the benefits of swimming in fresh, chemical-free water. Although they instantly warmed to the idea, they were unsure how a feature would fit into their garden. It offers stunning views of the Deben Valley in the far distance, which needed to be considered in the design. They also wanted to place the swimming pond in an area of the garden where it was going to receive a great deal of sunshine, but also have a degree of shelter from the east coast sea breeze. After realising that the swimming pond wasn’t
Birds come close to the water to drink, while at night local bats find a rich source of food in the insects that live around the edge of the pond
going to sit well or look natural due to the garden sloping considerably away from the house, they decided to connect the house and garden together. The garden is now approached via steps from a raised terrace and along a boardwalk that visually divides the swimming pond in two (above left).
CASE STUDY TWO: HERTFORDSHIRE - GARTENART
which was a bit cold, but last summer we swam on
Sacha Cole’s garden is unfinished and her pond is still new (below), but she
with coffee or wine just quietly sitting and watching
has no doubts about her decision to install one. ‘I first saw the concept in
dragonflies skim the water,’ says Chris.
‘The first time I swam in it was on Christmas day, hot and not so hot days. We also spent a lot of time
a lifestyle magazine, in an article that gave the case for natural swimming
‘I wish we had put in a swimming pond years
pond against conventional swimming pools. For me, there really was
ago. We recently visited my parents, who have a
no contest,’ she says.
swimming pool, and it was not nearly as nice to
‘We have an old 15th-century barn, which is listed, so we were limited in
swim in. The chemicals irritated and it was dull
what we could do. I wanted to be able to sit and look out from the garden
compared to the swimming pond, where you are
and see nothing unnatural. I also wanted the pond to be part of the view that
surrounded by plants. Watching all the plants
flowed seamlessly from the garden to the countryside beyond.’ Sacha was particularly enthusiastic about swimming with plants, although
grow for the first time and seeing little creatures arrive is very exciting.’
a few of her friends thought she was mad, to say the least. ‘They said it would be freezing cold and would cost a lot to keep clean and maintain, but it doesn’t. Even my husband was worried to start with, but he loves it now and my children absolutely adore it. Temperature is not an issue - they just jump
CONTACTS
in, and so do I. The joy of swimming without chemicals is so refreshing.’
NATURAL SWIMMING PONDS ● Anglo Swimming Ponds Strayfield Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 9JE. Tel: +44 (0)20 8363 8548. www.angloswimmingponds.co.uk ● GartenART Unit 7 Block C, Imperial Works, Perren St, London NW5 3ED. Tel: +44 (0)20 7183 3333. www.gartenart.co.uk ● The Swimming Pond Company Carpe Diem, Common Road, Bressingham Diss, Norfolk IP22 2BD. Tel: +44 (0)1379 688000. www.theswimmingpondcompany.co.uk ● Woodhouse Natural Pools Manna Ash House, 74 Common Road, Weston Colville, Cambridge CB1 5NS. Tel: +44 (0)1223 290029. www.naturalswimmingpools.com
The English Garden
73
DIRECTORY WATER FEATURES
Pond & water directory If you’ve been inspired by swimming ponds, but want a smaller water feature for your garden, then take a look at our list of suppliers for fountains, features and pond equipment
ACANTHUS STONEWARE
COULSON’S BRIDGES
MIMMACK AQUATICS
SWELL UK
Wimsey Way,
Broome Hill,
Woodholme Nursery,
Unit C,
Somercotes,
Marten’s Lane, Polstead,
Goatsmoor Lane, Stock,
SK14 Industrial Park,
Derbyshire DE55 4LS.
Colchester, Essex CO6 5AQ.
Essex CM4 9RS.
Broadway, Hyde,
Tel: +44 (0)1773 540704.
Tel: +44 (0)1206 262387.
Tel: +44 (0)1277 840204.
Cheshire SK14 4QF.
www.acanthus-stoneware.co.uk
www.coulsonsbridges.co.uk
www.mimmacks.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1613 514700.
ALLISON ARMOUR
DAVID HARBER
NATURAL COLLECTION
Baldhorns Farm Park,
Blewburton Barns,
16 Princes Park,
TETRA
Rusper, West Sussex RH12 4QU.
Hagbourne Road,
Team Valley Trading Estate,
PO Box 271,
Tel: +44 (0)1293 871575.
Aston Upthorpe,
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Southampton SO18 3ZX.
www.allisonsgarden.com
Oxfordshire 0X11 9EE.
NE11 0NF.
Tel: +44 (0)23 8060 6070.
Tel: +44 (0)1235 859300.
Tel: 0845 3677003.
www.tetra-fish.co.uk
www.davidharbersundials.co.uk
www.naturalcollection.com
Taddington,
DESIGNS IN STAINLESS
PRIVETT INTERNATIONAL
21 Froyle Close,
nr Cutsdean,
Unit 2, Semley Business Park,
Unit 3, Little Shellwood
Allington, Maidstone,
Gloucestershire GL54 5RY.
Station Road, Semley,
Farm, Clayhill Road, Leigh,
Kent ME16 0RQ.
Tel: +44 (0)1386 584414.
Shaftesbury,
Surrey RH2 8PA.
Tel: +44 (0)1622 675078.
www.architectural-heritage.co.uk
Dorset SP7 9AN.
Tel: +44 (0)1306 611040.
www.thecoppersculptor.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1747 855802.
www.privettint.co.uk
www.swelluk.com
ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
THE COPPER SCULPTURE
Taddington Manor,
AQUAHYDROTECH
WATERFEATURES2U
www.designs-in-stainless.co.uk
REDFIELDS
Gleneagles, Main Street,
Unit 1, Cluster Industrial Estate,
Routh, Beverley,
Middleton Road, Banbury,
DORSET WATER LILY COMPANY
Rodney, Southsea,
North Humberside HU17 9SL.
Oxfordshire OX16 4QG.
Yeovil Road,
Hampshire PO4 8ST.
Tel: +44 (0)1964 501988.
Tel: +44 (0)1295 273676.
Halstock, Yeovil,
Tel: +44 (0)23 9287 0000.
www.waterfeatures2u.com
www.aquahydrotech.com
Somerset BA22 9RR.
www.redfields.co.uk
Ashbourne House, Waterperry Court,
WATER GARDEN
Tel: +44 (0)1935 891668.
BLAGDON WATER GARDENS
www.dorsetwaterlily.co.uk
Bath Road, Upper Langford,
REDWOOD STONE
7 Warrior Business Centre,
The Stoneworks,
Fitzherbert Road,
North Somerset BS40 5DN.
FAWCETT POND LINERS
West Horrington, Wells,
Farlington, Portsmouth PO6 1TX.
Tel: +44 (0)1934 853921.
Back Lane, Longton,
Somerset BA5 3EH.
Tel: +44 (0)2392 373735.
www.blagdonwatergardens.co.uk
Preston, Lancashire PR4 5JA.
Tel: +44 (0)1749 677777.
www.water-garden.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1772 612125.
www.redwoodstone.co.uk
CHAMELEON AQUIFERS
WATER GARDENING DIRECT
www.fawcettsliners.co.uk
Holloway Farm, Milton Common,
STAPELEY WATER GARDENS
Hards Lane,
Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1GX.
HADDONSTONE
London Road, Nantwich,
Frognall,
Tel: 0800 0933656.
The Forge House,
Cheshire CW5 7LH.
Deeping St James,
www.chameleonaquifers.co.uk
East Haddon,
Tel: +44 (0)1270 623868.
Peterborough PE6 8RP.
Northampton NN6 8DB.
www.stapeleywg.com
Tel: +44 (0)1778 341199.
CHILSTONE
Tel: +44 (0)1604 770711.
Victoria Park,
www.haddonstone.com
www.watergardeningdirect.com
STEPHEN C MARKHAM Unit 4, Dominion Works,
WORLD OF WATER
Langton Green,
LANGLEY’S AQUATICS
Freshwater Road,
Hastings Road,
Tunbridge Wells,
Langley’s Farm, White Roding,
Dagenham,
Rolvenden, Cranbrook,
Kent TN3 0RD.
Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 1RX.
Essex RM8 1RX.
Kent TN17 4PL.
Tel: +44 (0)1892 740866.
Tel: +44 (0)1279 876245.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8590 5619.
Tel: +44 (0)1580 243333.
www.chilstone.com
www.langleysaquaticsltd.co.uk
www.stephencmarkham.co.uk
www.worldofwater.co.uk
Fordcombe Road,
74
The English Garden
76 The English Garden
GREEN ISSUES
Biodiversity
Eco-watch
You may regard them as garden nuisances or worse, but mosses, lichens and fungi are important and beneficial, says Anne Gatti
T
ILLUSTRATION/MAEVE CLANCY
he United Nations has designated 2010 ‘International Year of Biodiversity’ to make us all more aware of the pressing need to conserve ‘the variety of life on Earth’. Currently, it says, ‘our activities are destroying biodiversity at alarming rates’. Species have been disappearing at 50-100 times the natural rate, and habitats such as forests (45% of the Earth’s original forests have already disappeared), coral reefs and mangrove swamps are most at risk. In the UK, we are particularly concerned about loss of woodland, traditional meadows and orchards, peat bogs, downland and wetlands as well as the 1,150 or so species that are on the list for priority conservation. This makes sobering reading, but we gardeners can make really worthwhile contributions, not just by helping with local and national conservation activities, but by trying to make our gardens as biodiverse as possible. This means minimising or better, cutting out - chemicals, and maintaining as much variety as we can. Having plenty of different kinds of flowering plants is the first thing most of us think about, but in fact non-flowering plants, such as mosses and lichens, and fungi are just as important.
you to slip, the RHS recommends removal with a stiff brush or pressure hosing, or using a nonchemical seaweed-based cleaner. LICHEN OR LOVE ‘EM Lichens - partnerships between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria - are found everywhere except the deep sea, and usually arrive in the garden without our help. Again, we should welcome them. They form the base of the food chain on a living organism such as a tree trunk. They are also remarkable indicators of air quality - the golden yellow xanthoria lichen, for example, thrives in polluted air, while elegant grey-green hypogymia will not grow where there is nitrogen pollution. The OPAL survey, which you can take part in, is currently using nine of these indicator lichens to assess air quality across England. For many gardeners, the word ‘fungi’ means plant killers, such as sudden oak death and honey fungus, or annoying ones such as black spot and powdery mildew. But as Brian Spooner, head of
mycology at Kew, points out: ‘In a garden, as elsewhere, nothing can function without fungi, and the majority have positive and essential roles to play.’ Not only do microscopic ones perform the essential task of breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients both above ground and below, but at root level mycorrhizal ones give many of our ornamental plants a great kick start. The fruitbodies of many fungi are devoured by small mammals, insects and invertebrates - some 375 species of flies and midges make use of fungi in some way, while some insects use them to breed in. The best lawns for fungi, especially waxcaps, are ones that have not been improved or fertilised with nitrates or treated with moss killers. FOR MORE INFORMATION ● Mosses: www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk ● Lichens: www.thebls.org.uk ● Take part in the OPAL survey at: www.opalexplorenature.org ● Biodiversity Action Plan: www.ukbap.org.uk
Moss in lawns seems to cause us the most hysteria, and we spend hours trying to eradicate it, when we should let it flourish
EMBRACING YOUR MOSS According to the British Bryological Society, mosses, which have no true roots and therefore should not be allowed to dry out, thrive on low soil fertility, poor drainage and shade, so gardeners with those conditions should embrace these cushioning beauties. There are 766 species in Britain, including the amazing stag’s horn clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), whose spores are used to make explosive effects in the film industry. In a survey of gardens in Britain, there were an average of 27 moss species per garden, found on trees, rocks, stones, rotting wood, shrubs and lawns, with one garden having an astonishing 108 different mosses. Moss in lawns seems to cause us the most hysteria, and we spend hours trying to eradicate it, when the sensible thing to do would be to let it flourish if the conditions suit. On steps or walkways where it could cause
The English Garden
77
SPECIAL OFFER
THE ENGLISH GARDEN INSURANCE OFFER
Great value, better cover: what could be simpler?
10% discount
for The English Garden readers
To help you protect your home and garden and save you money The English Garden has negotiated preferential rates with leading insurance brokers, SmithGreenfield. High Net Worth Insurance Cover can be very beneficial to readers whose homes are valued at over £250,000 or whose contents are worth more than £50,000
R
eaders of The English Garden may be able to save on their current premiums and improve the scope of their cover by
changing to a specialist High Net Worth Insurance
Cover via specialist broker SmithGreenfield Services. High Net Worth policies may often be cheaper as they are underwritten correctly. A standard insurer may assume that the more an individual owns, the greater the risk. The reality is that the people who own valuables take good care of them. High Net Worth policies offer you worldwide All Risks cover for contents; agreed value settlements on items of high value, and restoration and depreciation cover for antiques and fine art. Garden plants, statues and furniture can be included at generous limits. The English Garden is delighted to offer readers access to effective and bespoke insurance through SmithGreenfield, who will provide confidential quotations, advice and information at no charge. Readers also benefit from a 10% discount.
SPECIAL BENEFITS ● Specialist cover for garden plants, furniture and statuary ● Worldwide ‘All Risks’ cover for all your possessions ● Cover includes ‘new for old’ replacement ● Prompt claims handling ● Full accidental damage
For a free quote or more information, tel: 0844 873 3919 or visit www.smithgreenfield.co.uk and go to the private clients page The English Home & Garden Insurance Offer is administered by SmithGreenfield Services PLC, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
78
The English Garden
OTTER FARM GROWING GRAPES
Down to a vine art
The English Garden
79
▲
Planting a vineyard is now a possibility thanks to the changing climate, says River Cottage head gardener Mark Diacono, so harvest the manifold rewards
T
C r e a t i n g y ou r o w n v i n e y a r d Inspired by the wine I tried, and after an indecently short period of consideration, I planted a small vineyard here at Otter Farm in the spring of 2008. It’s 3.5 acres, which sounds small, but after pruning 3,500 vines your hands and back will tell you otherwise.
VINEYARDS TIP #1 Training your vines Metal: Pros - strong, few repairs, long lifespan. Cons - expensive, look cold until vines establish. Wood: Pros - less expensive than metal, looks good. Cons - prone to splitting, twisting, fixings need repairing more frequently, shorter lifespan.
Setting up your own vineyard is surprisingly simple. A survey of the site is vital to ensure that the soil, aspect and microclimate are suitable. You’ll need to prepare the ground well in advance - this usually involves deep ploughing for drainage and rotovating the soil into a good tilth to plant into. You can do the planting by hand or employ a team who do this professionally. The prospect of a couple of us trying to plant 3,500 vines, perfectly spaced and in straight lines, scrabbling around on our knees with hand trowels, wasn’t overly
appealing. We got the pros to do it. Ernst and his team were in and out in little more than a morning, leaving me staring openmouthed at what was in front of me: a vineyard of 3,500 vines planted with exactly 1.4m between vines, in rows precisely 2.2m apart, perfectly aligned north to south. An intoxicating geometry that wasn’t there at breakfast time. There are other choices to be made: to train your vines on a wood or metal framework; whether to put the framework up yourself or get the pros in. And there’s the wait for a
PREVIOUS PAGE Planting a vineyard at Otter Farm is a labour of love for Mark. THIS PAGE, TOP LEFT Protect young vines from rabbits and deer. TOP RIGHT Check training wires are kept taut. ABOVE Vines need to be pruned each season and tied into the metal or wood training support.
80 The English Garden
PREVIOUS PAGE/JASON INGRAM THIS PAGE/JASON INGRAM
en years ago, I’m not sure I would have even washed my car with most English wine, but now I wouldn’t let you spill a drop. A bottle of Camel Valley ‘Cornwall’ Brut a few years ago sparked my conversion. It sat there in the fridge for some weeks. I wasn’t especially enthusiastic about trying it but a sunny day in the veg patch shouted for something cold and dry to go with the first asparagus of the year. It blew me away. None of that onedimensional over-jolliness I’d had from the odd taste of English wine at a farmers’ market or agricultural show. This was top fizz. It got me nosy about other UK vineyards and their wines. I was stunned to find that there are now more than 400 vineyards in the UK, with more than 3,000 acres of vines, from larger vineyards (Nyetimber and Denbies each have hundreds of acres down to vines) to the smaller producers with an acre or two of grapevines. You’ll be pleased to know that I’ve been diligent in my research, trying many wines, and I can tell you that comparatively few of them have been downright bad, many were excellent and a good few outstanding. We make generally great sparkling wines and wonderful dry whites, some good rosés and a few fine dessert wines, but I’ve yet to drink a good red. I know that this will get a few producers up in arms, but I haven’t. And I’ve tried. I find them so-so at best, and who wants to drink so-so?
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VINEYARDS IN THE UK ● CLIMATE
CONTROL
The sliding scale of greatness is mainly to do with our climate. Generally speaking, grapes don’t have to be quite so perfectly ripe to make good sparkling wine, and the better red varieties need longer on the vine in more heat than they’ll usually get in the UK. These limitations magnify the further north you go - the later start to spring and the cooler temperatures cut down on the varieties you can grow, but with the right varieties and microclimate you may find you can grow grapes surprisingly far up country. There are even a couple of small vineyards in Scotland.
● USEFUL
CONTACTS Courses Plumpton College, Ditchling Rd, Nr Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3AE. Tel: +44 (0)1273 890454. www.plumpton.ac.uk
VINEYARD TIP #2 Keep on top of pests and diseases
Consultancy and supplies Vine and Wine, 1 Putley Green, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2QN. Tel: +44 (0)1531 670734. www.vineandwine.co.uk
return: you’ll have at least three years until any sensible harvest, perhaps six to your first full scale one, and during that time you’ll be investing a little every month, usually in labour, occasionally in money. You will need to keep an eye out for the various diseases (mostly mildews) that may trouble your vines. Producing grapes does traditionally rely on pesticides and insecticides, but there are some vineyards that are growing organically and producing fabulous wine. My favourite of all UK wines comes from Will Davenport’s organic vineyard on the
Kent/Sussex border. His Limney Estate sparkling wine and Limney ‘Horsmonden’ dry white show that growing organic vines is not only possible in the UK but that they can produce wines that are as good as these shores get. Otter Farm is certified organic, so we will be heading down that road, but Will’s work encourages us and shows what can be done. As with anything from peas to apricots, your choice of grape variety will have much to say about how the wine tastes. The champagne grapes - Pinot Noir, Pinot
Soil and site survey John Buchan Tel: +44 (0)7713 632347. email: [email protected] Trellising construction Vineworks - Contact James Dodson on tel: +44 (0)7740 986617. www.vine-works.com Vine planting Ernst Weiss, Weinbergsbedarf, Eugen Weis, Hartmannstr. 29, 67487 Maikammer, Germany. Tel: +49 (0)6321 5093. www.weinbergartikelweis.de/index_en.htm ▲
THIS PAGE/TRACTOR PIC AND HAND BY GRAPES - JASON INGRAM PINOT NOIR GRAPE - MARK DIACONO
Choice of variety and good vineyard management helps, but it is likely you’ll need to spray too. Depending on where your sensibilities lie, the level of infection and the particularities of your vineyard, you can use seaweed feed, equisetum spray, garlic liquid or copper spray.
MAIN PICTURE It may be advisable to get help planting the vines.THIS PAGE,TOP It may take six years to get a proper full harvest. BOTTOM The Pinot Noir grape. OVER PAGE Strimming is best to cut grass near the base of vines. A tractor is an efficient way to keep on top of vegetation between rows.
The English Garden
81
CARING FOR YOUR VINES Lay mulch mat along the length of each row to keep the grass down in and around the vines - although you’ll still need to mow between the rows regularly through spring and summer. Remove all the buds that you don’t want to grow into fruiting canes in spring. Vines will need pruning in winter as well as tying in to your chosen training method.
T a k i ng t h e p l u ng e So if you’re thinking of planting a vineyard, or a few vines of your own at the allotment or in your garden, or if you just fancy trying wine from our island, you’ve a huge choice. Try as many wines as you can. Be inquisitive and check out the smaller producers and 82 The English Garden
Vineyard owners are very much a family, happy that someone else is joining in the enthusiasm you’ll find a few gems. Last summer I tried wine from Court Lane Vineyard in Hampshire, which produces only 2,000 bottles a year, and it was completely delicious, thanks largely to the old vines and the owners’ expertise, built up over 30 years of growing grapes. Speak to people doing it: my experience is that vineyard owners are very much a family, happy that someone else is joining in the enthusiasm. And visit plenty of vineyards - Camel Valley in Cornwall (Tel: +44 (0)1208 77959), Three Choirs in Gloucestershire (Tel: +44 (0)1531 890223) and Sharpham in South Devon (Tel: +44
(0)1803 732203) are among those who offer tours, lunch and a taster of some of the best produce we have here in the UK. If you do grow your own grapes, that first harvest promises to be pretty special. You can make your own wine or, if you have a reasonable haul, talk to your local wine maker and see if they’ll make the wine for you - you can even add to your harvest by buying other grapes. Whichever way, it won’t be long before you have your very own bottled sunshine to enjoy. Next month: Oriental leaves and spices.
THIS PAGE/ALL JASON INGRAM
Meunier and Chardonnay - are the most planted varieties in the UK. There are more disease-resistant vines such as Seyval blanc, which are also vigorous and high yielding. Or you can skate a little nearer to the margins of viability with a choice that needs a long sunny season to ripen well. The choice is yours and depends on site, location and (as much as anything) your attitude to a gamble. At Otter Farm, we’ve spread our bets. Alongside the relatively reliable Seyval blanc we have other less certain varieties of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon blanc and Gewürztraminer. All need more sun than the Seyval to give us good grapes. The ‘safer’ half should ensure a steady bottom line to the business, with the others offering the prospect of creating some individual and potentially unique wines if they do well. And this spring we are taking things a step further - an acre of new vines for dessert wine. I’ve developed an increasingly enthusiastic taste for dessert wines, and while we produce very little of it in Britain, some are excellent.
SEASONAL FOOD
From the kitchen garden Everything stops for tea, says Francine Raymond, so this Easter lay the table and enjoy a proper cup with fairy cakes and lemon curd PHOTOGRAPHS CHARLIE COLMER
B
y April, with longer afternoons, there should be plenty
summer, or rustle up a little eggy something - herby
of time for a post-meridian tea break before the light
scrambled eggs on toast, a savoury leek and cheese custard
fades. Sit back and enjoy the garden, either from
or for a special Easter celebration, a bread and butter
a sheltered spot such as a shed or verandah, or if it’s still a
pudding made with a sliced hot cross bun, or some lovely
little chilly, sit indoors gazing through the windows in
fairy cakes (see recipe, opposite) topped with marzipan eggs,
admiration of your handiwork.
hiding another nugget baked inside for a new twist on the
Whether the tea is made with real leaves (my favourite
old favourite of Simnel cake.
is a blend of China, Darjeeling, Assam and a little Earl Grey for that hint of smoky bergamot) brewed in a warmed pot
HIGH TIME FOR HIGH TEA
drunk weak, or builders’ tea in a mug from a teabag with
Take time to dress the table with your grandmother’s old
milk and three sugars, or an elegant home-grown herb
lace tablecloth, or those embroidered napkins you found at
tisane, an afternoon tea break is a civilised habit that will
the car boot sale. Lay out pretty porcelain cups and saucers,
refresh and refuel you until suppertime.
and pick bunches of sweet-smelling narcissus or vibrant tulips from the cut-flower garden and pop them in a cut glass
squirreled away in the larder during the fruity gluts of last
vase, and turn your welcome break into a special occasion.
Crafty ways with wood WASHING LINE PROP Freshly washed laundry dancing on the clothes line on a breezy spring day, imbuing your linen with sunshine, blossom and flowery scents, is the stuff that memories are made of. Loosely tie your line securely between two trees - I find fruit trees are best. Peg out your washing, then hoist it out of harm’s way with a sturdy hazel pole. Pick a stout branch of hazel or any sturdy stick with a fork two thirds along. Trim off the ends and your prop is ready to use.
84 The English Garden
▲
Add some toasted sandwiches spread with the jam you
EASTER FAIRY CAKES Fairy cakes are an ideal size. A quick bite and they’re gone, a mouthful of heaven. Fun to make and embellish with children helping, their decoration offers plenty of scope for artistic expression. This recipe makes 12 buns. I suggest you freeze any leftovers because they don’t have the keeping qualities of larger cakes - but I think you’ll find they disappear in a flash. ● Cream together 4oz/115g softened butter with 4oz/115g caster sugar, either by hand or using an electric blender. ● Add two beaten eggs a little at a time, and sift in 4oz/115g self-raising flour plus a teaspoon of baking powder. ● Slacken the mixture with a few tablespoons of milk and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. ● Divide the mixture into a dozen pretty paper cases in a 12-bun tray. ● Pop a tiny rolled ball of marzipan into each cake. ● Place in a pre-heated oven at 180ºC/350ºF for 15 to 20 minutes. ● Cool your fairy cakes on a rack and then top them with royal icing, melted white chocolate or a thin layer of rolledout marzipan, and decorate with a riot of marzipan eggs, chicks, bunnies, lambs or the whole menagerie.
SEASONAL FOOD
EGGS HATCHING If you (or your neighbours) don’t relish hearing the cockerel’s early morning alarm call, but you still like the idea of augmenting your flock with a few chicks, you can buy fertile eggs from poultry breeders. Our Hen Party on Easter Saturday is a mecca for those wanting to buy or sell hatching eggs from various breeds, from huge Buff Orpingtons to tiny Pekins. Only set regular-shaped and normal-sized eggs that have been laid within the previous two weeks, and place them under a broody hen or in an incubator to hatch. Calculate hatching day 21 days from the moment the broody hen sits - not from the time the egg was laid. But beware: you could hatch out a whole dawn chorus of cockerels, and no hens at all!
Preserve for the larder LEMON CURD Really fresh eggs should be available from farmers’ markets and farm shops, but if you keep your own hens (or have friends who do), green lights are go in the chicken run and there should be plenty of eggs to spare for small batches of lemon curd, the most luxurious of teatime treats. With luck and a conservatory, you may have lemons growing too, in a sheltered spot warmer temperatures have made citrus growing much easier.
THE KITCHEN GARDEN
● Beat two large whole eggs plus two extra yolks in a jug.
Come to The Kitchen Garden on Easter Saturday and
● Put 4oz/115g cubed unsalted butter, 4oz/115g caster sugar plus the
visit the poultry tent for fertile eggs, plus a wide range
grated rind and strained juice of two lemons in a basin.
of plant, produce, garden goodies and hen-keeping
● Pour the eggs in through a sieve.
stalls. Children can join in the egg hunt in the
● Put the basin over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring
churchyard opposite. For further information, see
regularly, until the curd thickens.
www.kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk
● Cool and spoon the mixture into sterilised jars. ● Try substituting honey for sugar for an especially unctuous curd.
86 The English Garden
ENGLISH GARDEN ADVERTORIAL
Are you still using peat? Switch to peat-free compost now to reduce your carbon footprint and save our valuable peatland habitats and wildlife
G
ardeners have grown with peat since the 1970s - and
PEAT FACTS
thousands of us continue to
● Peat is typically
do so. But it’s time to stop and stop
about 50% carbon.
fast. Through the recession, a newer,
● It is similar to
younger generation of ‘Good Life’
a fossil fuel as it
gardeners has emerged. Aiming for a
takes hundreds or
healthier life, and in order to keep their
thousands of years
carbon footprint down, they are
to form.
growing their own fruit and veg. However, many gardeners are
● Our lowland raised peat bog
unaware that peat is essentially a non-renewable resource, and when it’s harvested it
habitats are home to
damages valuable and scarce lowland raised bog habitats, which are home to many rare
many rare plants and
animals and plants. On top of this, making the sensible decision to swap from peat to peat-
animals. These areas
free alternatives would make a significant difference to individual carbon footprints. Three
are a scarce resource
million cubic metres of peat is used every year in the UK for horticultural use including
in England so need to be saved.
sales of multi-purpose compost. The extraction of peat in the UK alone results in just under
● 57% of peat in the UK is currently imported,
half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change. That’s comparable
with the majority from the Republic of Ireland and
to the total annual emissions of over 100,000 homes.
the Baltics. Reducing our use will also protect wildlife sites overseas.
‘People often struggle to find easy ways to make a difference to protect the environment. Using peat-free products in the garden is one of the simplest ways,’
● Soil is the biggest store of carbon after the oceans, and peat is the most significant soil carbon store.
says Diarmuid Gavin, supporter of the campaign The good news is that with so many effective alternatives, we can do something about this and quickly. Amateur gardeners account for about 70% of the peat used, mainly in the ALL IMAGES/ NATURAL ENGLAND
form of multi-purpose composts and growing bags, and this needs to change. The argument that there are few alternatives available to us now falls flat. Alternative products, such as those containing wood bark, green waste compost, wood fibre, coir and recycled peat from spent mushroom composts are sold at the majority of garden centres, and continue to be developed all the time. For most uses in the garden, the alternatives are just as effective as peat-based composts - although it is worth checking the instructions on the packaging, as watering and feeding techniques can sometimes differ. When peat-free compost isn’t available, look out for products with a lower peat content instead.The new Act on CO2 campaign has revealed that only a disappointing 54% of the market is currently peat free, and around 75 million bags of peat-based growing media still continues to be sold each year. But when asked,
CONTACTS For more information on the Act on CO2 peat campaign, visit:
www.direct.gov.uk/ buyingcompost
many gardeners say that if they had known the damage peat caused to the environment, they would have turned to the alternatives sooner.
The English Garden
87
• The garden is a happy place, we love ours and hope that our products provide you with enjoyment too. • Interesting range • Good quality products • Friendly customer service from Rebecca and Paul • Perfect gifts for gardeners • Many items inspired by our gardening heritage Office hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm Office 01989720178 Rebecca 07832138704 www.heritagegardentraders.co.uk
88 The English Garden
EATS & TREATS WINE AND DINE
Visiting the vines On land that has been farmed for generations, the owners of Wyken Hall have created a wonderful multi-faceted business that is thriving in the heart of Suffolk WORDS CINEAD MCTERNAN
LEFT The romantic gardens that surround the Elizabethan manor house of Wyken Hall. BELOW Wyken Vineyards produces award-winning wines from grapes grown on the estate.
visit to Wyken Vineyards offers much more than its name suggests. In addition to being an award-winning winemakers, you’ll find a stylish restaurant, café, shop and farmers’ market, as well as a beautiful garden, on an ancient 1,200-acre farm estate. Yet, it is not all business for owners Sir Kenneth and Lady Carla Carlisle, the husband-and-wife team behind this garden and food lover’s mini-mecca in the heart of Suffolk’s glorious countryside. Keen to stress that the working farm is also ‘our home’, the couple’s refreshing perspective is probably the reason that the different elements of their empire work so well together. ‘It is important for us that each element of Wyken Vineyards has a genuine connection back to the farm,’ says Sir Kenneth. ‘We see each part adding to the others rather than detracting from them - we sell wine in the shop, vegetables grown in the garden are used in
A
89
▲
The English Garden
the restaurant, and local farms sell their produce at our farmers’ markets, which means that for visitors there can be an interest in many separate enterprises.’ This astute business sense, together with an inherent respect and feel for the land, prompted the Carlisles to recognise the difficulties in farming and think about diversifing. In the spring of 1988, they made the bold decision to plant a vineyard. ‘Carla knew a lot about wines, having lived in France for five years, so we had a head start,’ explains Sir Kenneth. Closer to home, they worked with local vineyard Shawsgate and other wine growers to learn and hone their skills. ‘We have an East Anglian Vineyard Association that works very well in a friendly way,’ says Sir Kenneth. ‘For example, we don’t have a winery on site, so our red and whites are made at Shawsgate, which is just 30 miles down the road in Framlingham, and the sparkling wine at Chapel Down in Kent.’ A sizable concern, some 12,000 vines cover seven acres, and the first wines were produced after three years. Choosing grape varieties to suit the climate and sandy loam over chalk, the Carlisles clearly know what they’re doing - Vitis vinifera ‘Bacchus’, which makes the Carlisles’ best white wine, was voted English Wine of the Year in 1992 and Best Wine in East Anglia in 2008. V. ‘Madeleine Angevine’, originally from the Loire Valley, is ideal for the UK, being both able to cope in cooler climates and an early ripener - it produces a fine medium dry white wine. V. ‘Kernling’, another early ripener, is used for a dry Riesling. With one eye to ‘changing tastes and fashions’, the Carlisles now grow V. ‘Auxerrois’ and the popular V. ‘Pinot Noir’ for their Wyken Moonshine sparkling wine
Visitors can walk through an ancient woodland to the vineyards to soak up the picturesque scene: row upon row of vines that grow on the south-facing slope
90
The English Garden
EATS & TREATS WINE AND DINE
OPPOSITE PAGE,TOP The 400-year-old barn houses the restaurant and shop. CENTRE The restaurant was recently awarded a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand. BOTTOM, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT The ancient farm estate is set
and V. ‘Triomphe d’Alsace’ for their rosé, with V. ‘Wyken Pink’. Another string to their bow is the own-label beer they now produce, made from their malting barley. Although the vineyard is arguably at the heart of the thriving business, visitors can walk through an ancient woodland to see the vineyard without charge, and soak up the picturesque scene: row upon row of vines that grow on the south-facing slope, which is thought to have once been the site of a Roman vineyard.
in Suffolk’s beautiful countryside; fresh, local
WANDER IN THE GARDENS
produce is available every
The Carlisles influence also stretches to the wonderful gardens, which Sir Kenneth began designing in the late 1970s. ‘With the exceptions of the walls and old trees, the gardens have gradually evolved over the past 30 years or so,’ recalls Sir Kenneth. ‘It amazes me to think that over time, just one project a year can transform things.’ And there seemed to have been no shortage of ideas for annual ‘projects’. Visitors can enjoy wandering through a nuttery, a red-hot border, apple orchard, herb and knot gardens, a maze and wildflower meadows. There is a romantic, informal and natural feel to the gardens, which Alan North, the head gardener of nearly three years, says is ‘a real hit’ with visitors. The rose garden is densely planted with old-fashioned roses, under-planted with hardy geraniums and delphiniums, which all looks glorious in May and June. But it’s the kitchen garden, which supplies the restaurant with fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs, that is Alan’s ‘passion’. ‘We love using exciting plants to make the kitchen garden beautiful and productive,’ he says. ‘Growing produce that is used in the restaurant is great and gives a real sense of satisfaction.’
week at the farmers’ market; llamas join cattle and sheep on the farm; visitors can wander through the woodland to see the vineyards. THIS PAGE, ABOVE The Carlisles grow several varieties of grapes to make red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.
The gardens opened in 1992, as did the Vineyard Resaurant and Leaping Hare shop, both of which are housed in the farm’s 400-year-old barn. The high ceilings show the old timber frame, and the white tablecloths and elegant tableware make the restaurant the perfect place to go to celebrate a special occasion or as a treat. Not surprisingly, it has been awarded a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand. ‘We serve local food sourced mostly from the estate and local farms. Pheasant, pigeon, venison and seasonal vegetables feature on the menu.’ A café is also part of the story here and is the perfect place for a delicious lunch after a tour around the garden. The shop holds a great variety of goods, including locally made pottery and crafts, and design-led gifts from stylish crafts, wool throws and blankets to braided rugs from North Carolina, seasonal clothes in linen and wool, bronze sculptures, jewellery and cards. The farmers’ market, which is held weekly in the old livestock stables, makes Wyken Vineyard a must-visit on Saturdays, with a delectable selection of carefully vetted produce - bread, vegetables, cheese, meats and cakes from the best local sources. Visitors seem to love it. But then, they love all the other elements too, and who can blame them? A trip to Wyken Vineyards is a great day out. Wyken Vineyards, Wyken Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2DW. The gardens open daily, excluding Saturdays, from Easter until the end of September, 2-6pm. Restaurant, café, and shop open daily, from 10am-6pm; Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm. The Wyken Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 9am-1pm. Tel: +44 (0)1359 250262. www.wykenvineyards.co.uk The English Garden
91
GARDENER’S GUIDE POULTRY
Keeping chickens Plants and poultry can live side by side, and you might even find that these feathered friends are the perfect way to control slugs and snails. But picking the right breed is key, writes Tamsin Westhorpe
et’s start by being completely honest - a plantsman’s garden and chickens don’t go hand in hand. Although the thought of having a fleet of feathered friends running about the borders seems like a romantic idea, the truth is that they will cause some damage. However, if you’re keen to share your garden with a few girls then information about the different breeds is the key. Fall for the wrong breed and your garden may never look the same again. Re-homing those that don’t suit your purpose is hard, and you’ll find it nearly impossible to even give away feisty cockerels. You’d be wise to buy a few to start with and see how you get on. Most gardeners will opt for hens that are classified as large birds as these provide the most useful eggs for the kitchen. If you’re more interested in the look of the bird or have a very small garden, then bantams take some beating. These birds are cheap to keep and have great personalities. If a steady supply of eggs is required, the various hybrid birds are bred for the purpose. Warrens, Black Rock or Speckledy are a few examples of the more commercial breeds, but they can thrive in garden environments and are much cheaper to buy. Most hens come into lay from four to five months old, but in winter months it can take longer. When a hen is about five or six years old, the egg-laying cycle is much reduced and will almost cease. At this point you may need to consider replacing them. Having chickens in the garden brings another dimension to your outdoor space, and brings many advantages to the gardener. They are entertainers, pest controllers, soil improvers, egg providers and great friends. Before long, they’ll be feeding out of the palm of your hand and attempting to pop in through the back door.
▲
92 The English Garden
ILLUSTRATION/© ALLEGRETTO DREAMSTIME.COM TAMSIN WITH CHICKEN/VICTOR WESTHORPE RIGHT/TORY MCTERNAN
L
LEFT Golden Buff Orpingtons are very showy birds and are fairly gentle on the garden. BELOW Cotswold Legbars are said to be great garden hens and very friendly.
BREED PROFILE ● Orpington (buff, blue, black or white) This breed is friendly and docile, beautiful to look at, so would complement a garden. These birds don’t wreck everything in sight but the downside is that they’re not the most prolific egg layers. They tend to go broody very easily. ● Maran A friendly bird that produces the most incredible matt brown eggs. This breed has a tendency to clear anything green, so needs to be kept in a run or only allowed to roam under supervision. If you want to clear the ground of weeds they will be perfect for the job. The cockerels are not suitable for gardens where children play. If you like the look of them then the Cotswold Legbars are similar but less rough with your plot. ● Welsummer These birds are fiercely independent and fairly difficult to tame. Great foragers and have no regard for your garden. The eggs are incredibly brown but they’re not so keen to lay in the winter. The perfect hen for a stable yard or farm. Avoid the cockerels in a family garden. ● Wyandotte If you’re looking for hens with a placid nature, they’ll be perfect. Attractive birds with beautiful feathers of silver, black, blue and gold. Suited to a garden where the requirement is for three birds. They can be contained easily as they’re not great flyers. The eggs will be varied in colour with delightful markings and they could be described as average layers.
are friendly and calm. Lay well throughout the whole year. Not being keen flyers they are easy
ABOVE If apples aren’t good enough to store
to contain in a garden and if you only have a few
(this apple rack is from
your plants should be left alone - these hens will
www.coxandcox.co.uk),
adore titbits and attention.
the hens will love them. BELOW LEFT A very smart Sussex cockerel.
The organic gardener will benefit greatly from the presence of a few hens. Their manure is the perfect addition to a compost heap and they will simply adore devouring the slugs and snails that you collect. With chickens though, come foxes. Most chicken fanciers have had an experience or two with foxes. If you think you’re free of them in your area, then bringing in the hens will soon change things. Foxes can jump and scramble up most boundaries and it is seldom that they come for one hen - they’ll take or kill them all. You will be devastated - and experienced poultry keepers will always say that if you are keeping hens you have to be prepared to kill them quickly if they are very badly injured. Whatever size garden and however many hens you have, there are a few essentials that you must provide. A well built, fox-proof hen house is vital with perches and nesting boxes. These can become a garden feature themselves if chosen with care. The plastic and rather ingenious Eglu and similar more modern houses have proved very popular. Whatever house you choose it is vital that it’s easy to clean, as chickens do get mites (mite
THIS PAGE, TOP/COX & COX BOTTOM LEFT/GARDEN PICTURE LIBRARY
● Sussex (below) Perfect as a family pet - they
GARDENER’S GUIDE POULTRY
Chickens are entertainers, pest controllers, soil improvers, egg providers and great friends
powder is available). You’ll also need water drinkers and spaceship-style feeders that keep the feed dry. Feed is something that you must not skimp on. Chickens will enjoy kitchen and garden scraps but that won’t help them much with egg production. For great eggs, you need good quality layers’ pellets. Don’t worry about birds eating poisonous plants, as they tend to know what to avoid, so keeping hens will not restrict your plant choice.
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT/ALAMY ALAMY GRANT BRERETON
THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER It’s a known fact that chickens like company, and if left on their own suffer terribly and often die. For this reason, always plan to keep three or more. Another fact that most will know is that you don’t need a cockerel unless you want to hatch your own chicks - you will still get eggs without them. It seems obvious, but this is the most commonly asked question among new hen keepers. If tempted by a cockerel, then only buy one as they will enjoy a good fight. Cockerels are stunning, and having one wandering about the garden may seem very regale, but their wake-up call is sure to annoy the neighbours, they can be a little vicious, and your
clutch of hens may appreciate not having an amorous male on the prowl every day. It is most important that you are prepared to get up and let them out every morning and shut them up at night. When your hens arrive, put them straight in their house and shut them in whatever time of day - only let them out the following morning, as this ensures they know that the hen house is their home. Don’t, whatever you do, let them straight out into the garden. One thing is for sure, you will never look back after having chickens, and you won’t be able to imagine a garden without them. And just think of all those wonderful fresh eggs...
TOP LEFT AND RIGHT Many of the classic brown hens are hybrids and breed for egg production not the birds for an avid plantsman. ABOVE LEFT White Wyandotte Bantams.
WHERE TO BUY HENS Our sister title Country Smallholding magazine now comes with a 36-page specialist poultry supplement, which features a breeders directory. Buy a copy from the news stand or country stores, or subscribe by calling tel: 0844 8482892.
The English Garden
95
PLANT FOCUS PEONIES
RARE BEAUTIES PHOTOGRAPHS AND WORDS NICOLA STOCKEN TOMKINS
The English Garden
97
▲
Peonies are known to flutter the heart of many a plantsperson, but for collector Veronica Cross, seeking out the rarest of varieties is the focus of her passion
PLANT FOCUS PEONIES
PREVIOUS PAGE Paeonia. suffruticosa ‘Guardian of the Monastry’. ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT P. ‘Nike’; unnamed hybrid peony from Swedish breeder, Hermann Krupke; P. suffruticosa ‘Kamadafuji’; P. ‘L’Aurore’. LEFT P. x lemoinei ‘L’Espérance’. BOTTOM LEFT Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Ariadne’.
eonies, with their exquisite flowers, cannot fail to court admiration, as one of their most ardent fans knows only too well. ‘As each one opens, it seems more perfect than the one before,’ says plantswoman and collector Veronica Cross. ‘I’ve always loved peonies for the extravagant luxury of the flowers, and some of the largest are just so wonderfully vulgar.’ Veronica’s passion for plants is infectious and she has searched far and wide to collect the 200 or more different tree peonies that thrive amongst the terraces, woodland, beds and borders in her 5.5-acre garden. ‘There’s something very special about the shape of the flowers, and the open-faced way they look up at you,’ she adds. Hers is an extraordinary collection, encompassing both herbaceous varieties and tree peonies, originating from all over the world. Some have a provenance dating back centuries, while others are highly sought-after modern hybrids. The majority of Veronica’s tree peonies have been sourced overseas, from specialist nurseries in Germany, Sweden, the USA and France. Many have been supplied by mail order, but others she has collected in person. Of her most treasured peonies, two varieties stand out, being so rare that they are incredibly sought after: P. ‘L’Aurore’, with its unusual single raspberry blooms, golden centre and finely divided leaves, tinged red; and P. x le mo ine i ‘L’E spé ran ce’, with sublime single smokey yellow blooms, but sadly is a weak grower.
P
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Peonies are long-lived, but according to an old adage, they take their time to settle in: ‘Peonies first sleep, then creep, and in their third year, leap.’ P. suffruticosa ‘ Gu a r d i a n of t h e Mo n a st r y ’ is one such example, taking a while to establish. Once it has, however, a show of mauve, semi-double blooms with a deep purple blotch at the base of each petal is stunning and well worth the wait. Veronica takes great care when planting to ensure good health in later life. ‘I always dig a large hole, and
PLANTING TIPS Well-cared-for peonies will outlive their owners, so it’s worth taking time to thoroughly prepare the site. ● Choose a sunny, well-drained location with fertile, friable, well-drained, deeply dug soil. ● Although peonies need a cold snap to encourage flowering, their roots hate to be waterlogged. ● Peonies tolerate a wide PH range, but slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. ● Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system - about 60cm deep and 60cm
‘There’s something special about the shape of the flowers, and the open-faced way they look up at you’
across - adding loads of compost and a fertiliser such as Vitax Q4. ● Allow more than 1m between bushes to encourage good air circulation - this helps deter
ABOVE P. ‘Age of Gold’.
fungal infections that can occasionally strike
ABOVE RIGHT P. x lemoinei
during cold, wet springs.
‘Chromatella’ and
● With herbaceous peonies, young buds or
P. x lemoinei ‘Souvenir
‘eyes’ should be immersed 5cm below the soil.
de Maxime Cornu’.
● All tree peonies are grafted, and the graft joint must be planted 15cm below the ground. ● Mulch the root area with compost each autumn, avoiding the crown so as not to cause rot. In spring, push mulch away from new shoots to help air circulate. ● Protect young foliage and buds from late spring frosts with horticultural fleece. ● Support large-flowered cultivars against downpours or shake rain off after a soaking. ● Do not over-fertilise: a dose of wellbalanced, slow-release fertiliser once every several years is sufficient. ● In autumn, remove or burn any dead stems and foliage - never compost. ● Once established, don’t fuss over peonies; they thrive on a little healthy neglect.
▲
fill it with loads of good compost and Vitax Q4,’ she says. Providing they don’t become waterlogged, peonies thrive in her good, rich clay and, once planted, she doen’t feed for another two years. ‘You can overfeed them, and it’s best to give them time to adjust and seek out their own food. If they look sad, I take heed, but otherwise I leave well alone.’ Among the most vigorous are two golden tree peonies - the ‘voluptuous but fairly ordinary’ P . x l e m o in e i ‘ C h r om a t e l l a ’ and P . x le m oi n e i ‘SS o u v en i r d e Ma x i m e C o r n u ’. Eyecatching for their heavy blooms that hang downwards, they happily thrive in the sunken garden, having been transplanted from Veronica’s previous garden against all perceived wisdom. ‘I moved them with enormous rootballs while they were in full flower. I was astonished to find that they were absolutely fine. I suppose, since plants don’t read the gardening books, they don’t realise that they shouldn’t be moved!’ Her collection includes peonies of every colour except blue, a development that has so far eluded even the most talented of breeders. There is the late-
The English Garden
99
PLANT FOCUS PEONIES
Don’t overfeed them - it’s best to give peonies time to adjust and seek out their own food THIS PAGE, LEFT, FROM TOP P. ‘Hesperus’; P. ‘Golden Bowl’ ; P. ‘Black Pirate’; P. suffruticosa ‘Maxine’; LEFT P. x lemoinei ‘Chromatella’.
CONTACTS WHERE TO SEE PEONIES ● Kiftsgate Court, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6LN. Tel: +44 (0)1386 438777. www.kiftsgate.co.uk ● The National Plant Collection of rare Edwardian and Victorian Paeonia cultivars, Green Cottage, Redhill Lane, Lydney, Gloucestershire GL15 6BS. Tel: +44 (0)1594 841918. www.peony-ukgardeners.co.uk
NURSERIES SUPPLYING RARE AND UNUSUAL PEONIES ● Binny’s Plants, Binny Estate, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian EH52 6NL. Tel: +44 (0)1506 858931. www.binnyplants.co.uk
flowering, deep claret P . ‘ B l a c k P i r a te ’ , and the large, double P. ‘H e spe ru s’, with its silky ruffles of rose pink petals. The pale mauve, frill-edged semidouble P . su f f rut icos a ‘Ka mad a- f uj i ’ is a flamboyant addition to a border. When it comes to yellow there is a range of tones to suit all tastes. The strong-growing and rather striking P . s uf f r ut i co s a ‘ A r i a d n e ’ has a complex colouration of peachy yellow with red and maroon veining through the flower, while P . ‘Gol den Bowl’ is more demure. A medium-sized hybrid derived from P. lutea, it has yellow single flowers with red central flares. The delicate P. ‘Roman Gold’ has a golden boss of anthers highlighted against maroon inners. However, being so rare, not all Veronica’s peonies are easily identified. One such variety has the loveliest, crepe-like white petals. ‘I was expecting the pink double P. ‘Kishu-Caprice’, but this definitely isn’t it,’ she says. Veronica seems more excited by the discovery of this unique unknown than the missing pink double she believed was coming. Other gems in her collection include the beautiful P. ‘Guillaume Tell’, its petals a rich pink chiffon. And then there’s the recently introduced and much soughtafter hybrid P. ‘Nike’, with deep purple flares. ‘It’s one of my favourites,’ Veronica says, ‘because the colouring is most unusual - a sort of biscuit colour - but then I like the weird and wonderful,’ she laughs.
● Kelways Ltd, Langport, Somerset TA10 9EZ. Tel: +44 (0)1458 250521. www.kelways.co.uk ● Klehm’s Song Sparrow Nursery, 13101 E. Rye Road, Avalon, Wisconsin 53505, USA. www.songsparrow.com ● Pivoines Riviere, La Plaine, 26400 Crest, France. Tel: +33 (0) 475256098. ● Guldsmedsgårdens Plantskola HOV, S-524 95 Ljung, Sweden. Tel: +46 (0)513 50040 or email [email protected]
100
The English Garden
Veronica Cross’ peony collection is open by appointment only with a personal introduction. Write in the first instance to Lower Hopton Farm, Stoke Lacey, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4HX. For more information about varieties and care of peonies and tree peonies, you can join the Peony Society by visiting www.peonysociety.org
The English Garden 101
THE ENGLISH GARDEN READER EXCLUSIVE
FREE Tree Peony for every reader! *
Peonies are highly prized and make superb plants for borders, where they will produce huge, ruffled, satin-like flowers with captivating fragrance in spring. Claim your FREE Tree Peony worth £14.99, *just pay £4.45 postage. And take advantage of our other great offers, including specially formulated Peony Fertiliser at the special price of £5.49 for 100g.
FREE Tree Peony ‘Rou Fu Rong’
Tree Peony ‘Hu Hong’
WORTH £14.99! We’re offering every reader the sumptuous blooms of Tree Peony ‘Rou Fu Rong’, completely free! To claim, fill in the form below and just pay £4.45 to cover postage. Full sun to partial shade. To 4-5ft. Premium 3-yearold bareroot plants.
The peachy-pink, double, scented blooms of ‘Hu Hong’ are produced in crown- or lotus-shaped flowers from late spring to early summer. A mature plant can boast in excess of 100 flowers. 1 bareroot £9.99 2 bareroots £14.99 SAVE £4.99
Peony ‘Sorbet’
Peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’
Mouth-watering blooms, triple-layered and richly perfumed, the ultimate in flamboyance to dress up your borders. A must-have plant that’s surprisingly easy to grow. Height: 2436in. Allow 2-3 years from planting to flowering. 1 bareroot £7.49 2 bareroots + a third one FREE £14.98
‘Eden’s Perfume’ is said to be the most fragrant peony ever - large pink, layered blooms with the strongest rose-like fragrance, robust growth and strong stems. Perfect cut flower as well as a great border plant. 1 bareroot plant £9.99 RRP £12.99- SAVE £3
ORDER BY PHONE: 0844 573 2020. Please quote EGA29. Phone lines open seven days a week, 9am-8pm ORDER BY POST: The English Garden Offers, Dept. EGA29, PO Box 99, Sudbury CO10 2SN. Please make cheques payable to ‘The English Garden Offers’ ORDER ONLINE: www.thompson-morgan.com/eg
✁ Method of payment
THE ENGLISH GARDEN APRIL OFFER - EGA29 Total FREE! £4.45 postage
Please send me
Code Quantity Price
FREETREE PEONY ‘ROU FU RONG’ WORTH £14.99
90381
Cheques payable to ‘The English Garden Offers’ OR (Please delete as applicable) Cheque/Maestro/Mastercard/Visa
Tree Peony ‘Hu Hong’ 1 bareroot
81577
£9.99
Tree Peony ‘Hu Hong’ 2 bareroots SAVE £4.99
85912
£14.99
Peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’ 1 bareroot SAVE £3
8532
£9.99
Address ................................................................................
Peony ‘Sorbet’ 1 bareroot
8460
£7.49
........................................................................................................
Peony ‘Sorbet’ 2 bareroots + a third one FREE
8461
£14.98
Peony Fertiliser 100g
89902
£5.49 Total £
Plants will be dispatched from April 2010. All orders will acknowledged with a dispatch date. Delivery to UK addresses only. If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties. Offer closes 30 April 2010. Please note that your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan (Young Plants) Ltd (terms and conditions available upon request). All offers are subject to availability. Offers available to UK mainland residents only.
102
The English Garden
Name ...................................................................................
(for delivery purposes only)
..................................................... Postcode ........................... Telephone ............................................................................. Card number ......................................................................... (Maestro only)
Expiry date ..................................... Issue no........................ Signature...............................................................................
TOP QUALITY, PERSONAL SERVICE at sensible prices
Garden furniture in sustainable TEAK
Receive a free picnic table or teak cheese board with your order Visit: www.walkham.co.uk or call free NOW: 0800 298 8076 for our brochure and price list Walkham Teak® Ltd Walkhampton, Devon PL20 6LW Member of The Forest Trust
The English Garden 103
PLANTS IRISES
LEFT ‘Vive la France’, a tall bearded iris bred by the famous French Cayeux nursery. ABOVE Julian Browse, owner of Seagate Irises, and caretaker of the National Plant Collection of Historic Bearded Irises.
here is something about bearded irises that lifts the spirits. Perhaps it is their Mediterranean origins, that somehow remind us of sunshine holidays. In Britain, a land known for its grey skies, their fabulous yet fleeting flowers can never be taken for granted. One of the most important collections of historic irises in the UK is housed in a small roadside nursery in Lincolnshire. Ten years ago, Julian and Wendy Browse arrived back in the UK after living in France for a decade, and put their minds to turning a hobby into a business. At first, they considered selling cottage garden plants, but realised that to have any chance of success, they needed to specialise. Unlike in France, there were very few specialist iris nurseries in England, so they began to look at the Fenland areas around the Wash for some land - partly because of its reputation for dryness and partly because there were lots of ‘slips’ of land, sold off when big fields were cut through by roads, and too small for commercial agriculture. In 10 years, their original list of 100 tall bearded irises has now grown to nearer 1,200 different varieties, including modern, water irises, sibiricas and species. But it is for the collection of 350 historic bearded irises that Seagate Irises has become best known. ‘I collect anything that is pre-1965,’ says Julian. ‘That’s the time that the shape of irises changed. From
T
IRIS CHARM Seagate Irises in Lincolnshire brings a touch of the Mediterranean to Britain with its penchant for classic tall bearded irises, on show and on sale
The English Garden
105
▲
WORDS JACKIE BENNETT
ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT ‘Nibelungen’; ‘Oulu’; ‘Kiss of Summer’ is a modern variety - very tall, reaching 1m; a richly coloured pre-1965 bearded iris, ‘Gypsy Jewels’ flowers mid-season. BELOW LEFT The historic iris beds at Seagate nursery, with dark purple ‘Draco’. BELOW RIGHT Plants like ‘Bouzy Bouzy’are sold in two-litre pots.
106 The English Garden
the 1960s onwards, the tendency was to breed for ruffles and frills - more flouncy, I suppose. My interest is in the older varieties that were bred for vigour, colour and the unique patterning on the petals.’ Irises are not a new interest for Julian. ‘I had started collecting them in France, where of course they grow fantastically well, but it was not until I came back to England that I took it up seriously, and then discovered that I couldn’t find many of the old varieties.’ He turned to a growing international community of iris lovers, and built up links with gardens like Myddleton House in Enfield, Parc Floral de la Source in France and the Presby Iris Gardens in New Jersey, swapping stock and keeping each other up to date on discoveries. He has close links with the Historic Iris Preservation Society in America (HIPS), and the famous Cayeux nurseries in France. However, as Julian would agree, not many people buy irises for their history - they buy them because they like them, and because they are seduced by their velvety petals and rich, sumptuous colours. They also have a variety of perfumes, such as a light, citrus scent. ‘Most gardeners think about irises in May or June when they come into flower, so our display beds are designed to show them off at their peak.’ Half of Seagate’s irises are bought in pots at this time, but enthusiasts will order from the catalogue in March or April, before they come into flower, ready for delivery in August and September when the stock is divided and put into pots. All the stock at Seagate is in two-litre pots and ready to go into the ground.
PLANTS IRISES
HOW TO GROW BEARDED IRISES ● Irises work well grown in rotation as they need splitting and moving every three to four years. This is why they are often grown in kitchen gardens, and potatoes grow well in their place. ● They are greedy feeders, so add garden compost or well-rotted manure to the bottom of the planting hole. This is particularly important in sandy soils. Top dress with bonemeal or blood, fish and bone in subsequent years. ● Plant the rhizomes in a sunny position, on the surface of the soil with the roots firmed in. Don’t cover the rhizomes with soil as they need to be exposed to the sunlight. ● Weeding must be done carefully with a hoe to avoid disturbing the roots. ● Divide rhizomes after three or four years. By then they will have formed a large clump, which is dead in the middle - all the living parts are around the outside. Look for the side shoots and replant those parts of the rhizome that have healthy shoots. ● Don’t chop the leaves off in autumn. This should only be done when they have been divided and replanted to prevent the wind rocking them out of the ground and loosening the roots.
PREVIOUS PAGE/RICHARD HANSON THESE PAGES/NIBELUNGEN & DRACO BED SEAGATE IRISES ALL OTHER IMAGES - RICHARD HANSON
Research has shown that they will produce less flowers if the leaves are regularly cut down.
‘I make a point of dispelling as many iris ‘myths’ as possible,’ Julian says. ‘For example, many people believe that irises don’t need much rain. They can survive without water, but they do much better when watered. Likewise, because they will survive on poor soil, people don’t think they need feeding, but in fact they actually respond well to fertilisers. ‘It’s hard to pick favourites,’ he says, ‘but in the iris world, breeders aim for something called the Dykes Medal - the top prize awarded since 1927 by the American Iris Society.’ The first winner was ‘San Francisco’, followed by many classics including ‘Blue Rhythm’ (1950), ‘Sable Night’ in 1955, up to the current day ‘classics’ like ‘Dusky Challenger’, which won in 1992. Seagate try to stock as many US Dykes irises as possible; a sure sign of quality. In 2009, Julian acquired 300 more varieties from Italy, America and France. ‘The Oxford Botanic Garden have also given us a lot to grow as their reserves, because they are running out of space!’ Business at the nursery has always been by word of mouth. A limited mail order service is available for some of the choice varieties, and as time goes by Julian has found that his motivation is something more than making a living. ‘I now want to make sure that the iris gene pool stays replete,’ he says. ‘That’s why I am so interested in the historic varieties. Within their genetic make up are qualities and character that could be lost - that’s why I collect.’
ABOVE Helper Steph Royal packing irises for dispatch. BELOW, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Bred in the 1950s, ‘Tarn Hows’ is a mix of pinks and amber; Iris ‘Ever After’ has a burnt orange ‘beard’ on the pinkish-purple falls; ‘Dandy’ is a tall bearded with creamy yellow standards, bred in 1959; a French-bred iris, ‘Ambroisie’ flowers late in the season, well into June.
The National Plant Collection of Historic Bearded Irises (pre-1965), Seagate Irises, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, PE12 9RX (on the A17). The display garden and nursery open April to mid-July, daily, 10am-5pm (and at other times if you call ahead to make an appointment). Tel: +44 (0)1406 365138. www.irises.co.uk The English Garden
107
Advertorial
Time for...
Lawn care SCH (Supplies) Ltd
Dog Rocks
SCH (Supplies) Ltd are a British company manufacturing attachments for estate and garden tractors. The company have a huge variety of products on offer, including their popular Lawn Care Systems. The main carrier frame is purchased, along with any number or combination of tools, among which are slitters, aerators, de-thatchers, rollers etc. By choosing the attachments to suit your conditions, you can keep your lawns in perfect condition. As well as the lawn care systems, SCH also produce trailers, trolleys, sprayers, waterers and much more.
Dog Rocks placed in your dog’s water bowl will help stop urine burn patches on your lawn and shrubs. Dog Rocks are a 100% NATURAL product endorsed by vets worldwide, imported from Australia and distributed throughout Europe by Dog Rocks Distribution, www.dogrocks.co.uk. Ensure that your lawn remains burn patch free by starting off the year using Dog Rocks. They are hassle free, simply leave Rocks in water bowl & refresh water as usual, replace every 2 months.
A free full colour brochure is available by calling 01473 328272, and the full range can be viewed by visiting www.schsupplies.co.uk
“They really work, what would I do without them!” Freya Ireland, Wiltshire. June 09 Please contact us for more info on 0044 (0)1628 8222 43 or email [email protected] or visit www.dogrocks.co.uk. Dog Rocks RRP £9.95.
EverEdge
Fix your lawn this Spring
Manufactured in the UK from galvanised steel and with a weather resistant paint, EverEdge is designed to form a permanent edge to all landscaping applications. Durable and flexible, the edging can be formed into any shape to create the intended design. EverEdge comes in a range of colours and three standard depths 75, 100 or 125mm, two thicknesses 1.6 or 2.5mm and in 1.0 metre or 2.5 metre lengths.
Spring time is an excellent time of year to renew your lawn particularly after such a hard winter. Every year up to a quarter of the grass in your lawn can die off through a combination of wear and tear and bad weather. To replace and feed lost grass in your lawn Johnsons Lawn Seed have launched Quick Fix. Johnson’s Quick Fix combines two well proven products into one. High quality Johnson’s fine leaved perennial ryegrass mixed with Growmore. The fine leaved perennial ryegrass creates a dense hard wearing lawn and the Growmore speeds up establishment and increases the number of healthy plants creating the ideal combination for the lawn owner who needs quick results.
Suitable for all projects, large or small, EverEdge offers a simple, unobtrusive and permanent solution to edging driveways, paths, lawns and flowerbeds. Tel: 01453 731717 Email: [email protected] Web: www.everedge.co.uk 108 The English Garden
For more info call 01386 791113, email [email protected] or visit www.johnsonslawnseed.com
Established in 1982 A friendly and professional family firm TOPIARY SHAPES AND ARCHES FLAT-PLANE, BOX-HEAD AND PARASOL TREES INSTANT HEDGING Please see our website for further details
www.crowntopiary.co.uk Visitors are welcome by appointment. 234 North Road Hertford Hertfordshire SG14 2PW Telephone 01992 501055 • Email: [email protected]
The English Garden 109
BOOK REVIEWS
Library leaves This month, we review volumes on the fine art of botanical drawing, self-sufficiency, practical gardening and Dorset’s best
SPECIALIST BOTANY FOR THE ARTIST (Dorling Kindersley, £25) This is a very well presented book, with beautiful drawings and excellent photographs. It is large, weighty and glossy with high quality image reproduction. The author, Sarah Simblet, is an artist who has previously published books on anatomy for the artist and drawing, and this book shows her evident skill at botanical illustration. The drawings are excellent - they have personality and depict living
It shows how botanical art has changed and developed over time, and explains the varied techniques of famous artists’
plants perfectly. In the opening section, she discusses everything from where
German painter and engraver
Church explored the anatomy of
lessons are very easy to follow, in
to find plants, and how to store
Albrecht Dürer of the early 16th
plants in the 19th century from the
a clean layout. As a professional
them, to the drawing tools and
century, and contemporary artists
confines of the University of
artist, I found the tips really
materials used by botanic artists.
such as the Australian Mali Moir.
Oxford Botanic Garden. These
enlightening and well illustrated.
Plant definitions are explained,
These masterclasses not only
The classes do demand an
and we are brought through
show how botanical art has
really open up the subject of
existing knowledge and experience
examples of both non-flowering
changed and developed over
botanic illustration, its history
of drawing, particularly
and flowering plants. From this
time, but also explain the varied
and development.
point on, the structure of the book
techniques of these artists; painters
intersperses classification and
such as Ferdinand Bauer, who
section are clear and concise. The
using it again and again, which is
explanatory sections on plants with
travelled with scientific expeditions
author covers structure, building up
perhaps the highest praise I could
drawing classes from the author
during the 18th century, and were
a drawing, mark-making, and how
give. An excellent book for the
and masterclasses from noted
a vital part of documenting the
to retain the vibrancy of a plant in
botanical artist, be they
botanic artists throughout history,
exciting new plant discoveries of
the final piece of work. There are
professional or amateur.
including such greats as the
that era. In contrast, Arthur Harry
some excellent tips and the
110
The English Garden
The drawing classes in each
observational. I read this book cover to cover, and I can imagine
Maeve Clancy, visual artist
BOOKS IMAGE/KELLY WEECH
biographies are fascinating, and
Books for closet smallholders
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BACK GARDEN SELF-SUFFICIENCY
NEW URBAN FARMER
CHICKEN MANUAL (Haynes, £19.99)
(Timber Press, £14.99)
(Quadrille, £14.99)
those interested in having some
(Dorling Kindersley, £25)
Learn how to do everything
A mix of allotment vegetable
poultry in the garden for eggs and
A new edition with lots of extra
A definitive reference book for
THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF SELF SUFFICIENCY
from milking a goat to making
growing tips and stories with a
meat. Written step-by-step for
content on growing your own food,
dandelion wine, and grow 60lb
whole load of interesting recipes
people fresh to fowl, but still
this well-known classic does exactly
of fruit and 2,000lb of vegetables
to use up your harvest. Well-
good for hardened chicken
what it says on the cover, and tells
on a quarter acre in a year.
presented and enjoyable.
owners to have to hand.
you everything you need to know.
GARDEN GUIDE THE GARDENS OF DORSET
Toby Buckland seems to live, and must breathe, plants and gardens... his guide is a great general book’
(Frances Lincoln, £25) A coffee-table sized tome, this book explores one of the
37 ones featured in here
HOW TO PRACTICAL GARDENING HANDBOOK
represent just a handful of
(BBC Books, £18.99)
them. The map at the front is
A chirpy chappy and our
essential. However, the book
new columnist (see pg 15),
most beautiful counties in the UK. Dorset is home to many great gardens and the
does not include opening times and prices, so you’ll still need to double check on these before you set off to go visiting. The writer, Roger Lane, explains the history and style of
Toby Buckland seems to live, Canford School in Wimborne. This is the type of book you
and must breathe, plants and gardens. Dedicated to getting
would be thrilled to find in your
Britain digging, the TV
Dorset holiday accommodation.
presenter has now written
But a rather frustrating thing
this how-to-do-everything
the gardens featured in a very
is that it’s very unclear if all the
book, covering plant care,
easy style, and the photographs
gardens are open to visit. Some
propagation, vegetable and
things to do and deal with in
demonstrate clearly what to
are small private gardens open
fruit growing, design, pests
an earth-based garden (not a
expect when you visit. The mix of
under the NGS, but to find this
and a few projects. Aimed at a
container in sight). There are
gardens covered demonstrates
out I had to do a Google search.
more experienced or ambitious
handy tips, and good-looking
gardener than the pots-in-a-
photographs that show how to
the diverse range of gardens that
To be fair, this is a display book
about the most common
the county has to offer. Three
that would make a great gift, but
courtyard urbanite, this guide
do everything from building a
notable examples include The
it needs to be backed up with
would suit someone who has
stone wall to pricking out and
Secret Garden at Hilfield Friary,
more precise garden information.
been bitten by the gardening
scarifying the lawn.
the world-famous Compton Acres, and the gardens belonging to
Norah Williams,
bug and wants a great general
Stephanie Mahon,
garden writer
catch-all book with information
books editor
The English Garden
111
112 The English Garden
THE ENGLISH
GARDEN In the MAY issue…
SPRING STARBURSTS Carol Klein picks striking umbellifers RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2010 Getting your hands on an ex-show garden Crocus nursery prepares - Raymond Evison celebrates 50 years - top show design ideas
PLUS ● FIVE stunning early summer gardens ● Ride-on mowers put to the test ● Garden furniture - Toby Buckland - oriental
greens - best blossom …and much more
More money-off garden entry vouchers - WIN a super Hayter mower
On sale 13 April Sold in selected Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and WH Smith
READER OFFERS
Great savings on days out with our exclusive
GARDEN VOUCHERS Celebrate the arrival of spring by visiting our selection of beautiful and inspiring gardens around England. In the first of a two-part series, we bring you 16 gardens that are exclusively offering The English Garden magazine readers 2-for-1 entry or a free tea-for-two. Visit all the gardens listed here and you’ll SAVE £73.50!
WOLLERTON OLD HALL GARDEN
CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN
A series of 16 ‘rooms’ set over four acres
*TEG OFFER:
A beautiful walled garden in the heart of
*TEG OFFER:
including a shade, rose, orchard and
Free strawberry scone
London, with exceptional collections of
2-for-1 entry
sundial garden, as well as a yew walk and
and pot of tea, from
herb and medicinal specimens, as well as
1 April-31 May 2010
2 April-31 May 2010
Perfumery and Aromatherapy borders and
lime allée. Plenty to satisfy plant lovers too, with collections of clematis, salvias, phlox
botanical order beds. Café and shop.
and roses. Tea room and plant sales. Open in April on Wednesdays,Thursdays Open Fridays, Sundays and Bank
& Fridays, 12-5pm; Sundays & Bank
Holidays, from 2 April to 30
Holidays, 12-6pm. See website for
September, 12-5pm. Adults £5.50.
other opening times. Adult entry £8.
Wollerton, Market Drayton TF9 3NA.
Swan Walk, London SW3 4JJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1630 685760.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7352 5646.
www.wollertonoldhallgarden.com
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
HIGH BEECHES GARDENS
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD BOTANIC GARDENS
Set in 27 acres, the gardens offer
*TEG OFFER:
The oldest botanic garden in the country,
*TEG OFFER:
plenty of year-round interest for plant
2-for-1 entry from
featuring over 7,000 plants, glasshouses,
2-for-1 entry
enthusiasts. Highlights include a
1 April-1 May 2010
as well as a Grade I listed walled garden,
throughout April 2010
woodland tree trail, natural wildflower
herbaceous borders and a water garden.
meadow and water garden. Tea room. Open daily all year round. March, Open daily, except Wednesdays,
April, September & October, 9am-
from 21 March to 31 October,
5pm; May to August, 9am-6pm;
1-5pm. Adult entry £6.
January, February, November &
High Beeches Lane, Handcross,
December, 9am-4.30pm. Adults £3.50.
West Sussex RH17 6HQ.
Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ.
Tel: +44 (0)1444 400589.
Tel: +44 (0)1865 286690.
www.highbeeches.com
www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cut out the vouchers and present to the participating garden to redeem the value of the offer as stated on the voucher, i.e. entry for two adults for the price of 1 full-paying adult, or a free tea and cake for two. They can only be used at participating gardens included in this feature, ‘Garden Vouchers’ in the April 2010 issue of The English Garden. The validity of the offer varies from garden to garden, so check before you travel. Vouchers do not apply to purchases made from nurseries, shops and cafés at participating gardens. Photocopies not accepted.
114
The English Garden
FORDE ABBEY AND GARDENS
KIFTSGATE COURT
Thirty acres surrounding a former
*TEG OFFER:
Plenty of year-round interest for plant
*TEG OFFER:
Cistercian monastery featuring the
2-for-1 garden entry
enthusiasts in addition to a wonderful
2-for-1 entry
Mermaid pond, home to the Centenary
from 1 April-31 May 2010.
collection of Mediterranean specimens
throughout April 2010.
Fountain with its 160ft-high water jet;
that benefit from a sheltered climate in
spring bulb displays; a kitchen garden, rock
the lower garden.
garden; arboretum; and bog garden; with large collections of primulas and lobelia.
Open in April on Sundays, Mondays & Wednesdays, 2-6pm. See website
Open daily throughout the year,
for May-September opening
10am-6.30pm. Adults £8.50.
times. Adults £6.50.
Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU.
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire,
Tel: +44 (0)1460 220290.
GL55 6LN.Tel: +44 (0)1386 438777.
www.fordeabbey.co.uk
www.kiftsgate.co.uk
PINSLA GARDEN AND NURSERY
MARLE PLACE GARDEN AND GALLERY
Imaginative, artistic garden with plenty
*TEG OFFER:
Ten acres of formal and informal planting
of ideas for smaller spaces with grasses,
2-for-1 entry
in this artist’s garden, featuring ancient
*TEG OFFER: Free homemade cake
shrubs, trees - including Japanese acers
from 1 April-1 May 2010.
woodland, orchards, Victorian gazebo,
and pot of tea for two,
and spring-flowering Acacia pravissima -
Edwardian rockery, walled fragrant garden,
from 1 April-1 May 2010.
grasses and alpines all set among a maze
a restored 19th-century greenhouse with
of paths, sculptures and garden art.
orchid collection, and ornamental ponds.
Open daily from 23 February to
Open daily from 1 April to 3 October
31 October, 9am-6pm. Adults £2.50.
(excluding 22 May and 31 July),
Glynn, Near Cardinham,
10am-5pm. Adults £5.
Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 4AY.
Brenchley,Tonbridge, Kent TN12 7HS.
Tel: +44 (0)1208 821339.
Tel: +44 (0)1892 722304.
www.pinslagarden.net
www.marleplace.co.uk
RODE HALL AND GARDENS
MILL DENE GARDEN *TEG OFFER:
Hidden paths wind up from the mill pool
*TEG OFFER:
designed by Henry Repton in 1790. April
2-for-1 entry
and stream in this sloping valley garden
2-for-1 entry
highlights a spectacular woodland filled
from 5 April-1 May 2010.
with grotto and potager. During April, the
from 1 April-1 May 2010.
Set in landscaped gardens originally
with rhododendrons, azaleas, bluebells and
rose walk is lined with daffodils and the
lily of the valley. Don’t miss the Italianate
yellow tulip ‘Golden Apeldoorn’.
and kitchen gardens. Open Tuesdays to Fridays, from Open Tuesdays to Thursdays, Saturday
1 April-30 September, 10.30am-
1 May, and bank holiday Mondays from
6pm. Adults £5.
April to September; 2-5pm. Adults £4.
Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh,
Rode Hall, Scholar Green, Cheshire
Gloucestershire GL56 9HU.
ST7 3QP.Tel: +44 (0)1270 873237.
Tel: +44 (0)1386 700457.
www.rodehall.co.uk
www.milldenegarden.co.uk
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cut out the vouchers and present to the participating garden to redeem the value of the offer as stated on the voucher, i.e. entry for two adults for the price of 1 full-paying adult or a free tea and cake for two. They can only be used at participating gardens included in this feature, ‘Garden Vouchers’ in the April 2010 issue of The English Garden. The validity of the offer varies from garden to garden, so check before you travel. Vouchers do not apply to purchases made from nurseries, shops and cafés at participating gardens. Photocopies not accepted.
The English Garden
115
116 The English Garden
READER OFFERS
THE WALLED GARDEN AT SCAMPSTON
HELMSLEY WALLED GARDEN
Contrasting with the contemporary Walled
*TEG OFFER:
A five-acre walled garden built in 1758 with
*TEG OFFER:
Garden designed by Piet Oudulf, the new
2-for-1 entry to the new
impressive apple and vine collections as
2-for-1 entry entry
mile-long Cascade Circuit Walk takes in the
Cascade Circuit Walk
well as over 250 clematis varieties. New
from 1 April-1 May 2010.
traditional rock and woodland gardens and
from 1 April-1 May 2010
improvements include a physic garden, an
‘Capablility’ Brown Lakes.
exotic border and a 100m-long herbaceous border. Plus plant nursery, café and shop.
Open Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2 April to 31 October.
Open daily, 1 April to 31 October,
10am-5pm. Adults £5 entry to Walled
10.30am-5pm. Adults £4.
Garden, £3 for Cascade Walk.
Cleveland Way, Helmsley,
Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire YO62 5AH.
YO17 8NG. Tel: +44 (0)1944 759111.
Tel: +44 (0)1439 771427.
www.scampston.co.uk
www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk
EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDENS
HIDDEN VALLEY GARDENS
Created by plantswoman Margery Fish,
*TEG OFFER:
This four-acre display garden and specialist
*TEG OFFER:
this quintessential, Grade I listed English
2-for-1 entry throughout
plant nursery is sure to inspire. Themed
2-for-1 entry from
cottage garden is filled with rare and
March and April 2010.
areas include cottage garden beds,
20 March-30 April 2010.
unusual plants, as well as a noted
a Mediterranean and 'hot' border,
collection of hardy geraniums. Don’t miss
a pond garden, Japanese area,
the excellent specialist plant nursery.
potager, ‘Fairy Well’ and a fernery.
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays & Bank
Open daily, except Tuesdays and
Holiday Mondays to 30 October & daily
Wednesdays, from 20 March to 15
in February and from 1 May to 17 July.
October, 10am-6pm. Adults £3.
Adults £4.50. South Petherton,
Treesmill, Par, Cornwall PL24 2TU.
Somerset TA13 5HH.Tel: +44 (0)1460
Tel: +44 (0)1208 873225.
240328. www.eastlambrook.com
www.hiddenvalleygardens.co.uk
STILLINGFLEET LODGE
KNOLL GARDENS
Colour-themed cottage gardens created
*TEG OFFER:
Well-known grass specialist with
*TEG OFFER:
around a late 18th-century farmhouse.
2-for-1 entry from
superb display gardens, showcasing
2-for-1 entry from
Herbaceous borders, wildflower meadow,
1 April-30 September 2010.
naturalistic planting, a Mediterranean-
1-30 April 2010.
rare small trees, a pear tree garden and
style gravel garden and the recently
a natural pond attract plenty of wildlife.
replanted Mill End. Plant sales.
Rare poultry breeds roam free. Open Wednesdays to Saturdays from Open Wednesdays, Fridays, and first
November to April, 10am-4pm; and
and third Saturday and Sunday each
Tuesdays to Sundays from May to
month from 3 April-29 September.
October, 10am-5pm. Adults £5.50.
Adults £4. Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet,
Hampreston, Wimborne BH21 7ND.
York YO19 6HP.Tel: +44 (0)904 728506.
el: +44 (0)1202 873931.
www.stillingfleetlodgenurseries.co.uk
www.knollgardens.co.uk
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cut out the vouchers and present to the participating garden to redeem the value of the offer as stated on the voucher, i.e. entry for two adults for the price of 1 full-paying adult or a free tea and cake for two. They can only be used at participating gardens included in this feature, ‘Garden Vouchers’ in the April 2010 issue of The English Garden. The validity of the offer varies from garden to garden, so check before you travel. Vouchers do not apply to purchases made from nurseries, shops and cafés at participating gardens. Photocopies not accepted.
The English Garden
117
READER EVENTS
THE ENGLISH GARDEN For 2010, we have arranged an exciting and exclusive series of events at some incredible venues. We hope you will join us...
POTTERY Theme: A day at the famous Whichford Pottery, a chance to work with clay and see the private pottery garden. When: Tues 27 April and Tues 21 September Number of places: 15 Start time: 9.30am-4pm Venue: Whichford Pottery, Near Shipstonon-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5PG. www.whichfordpottery.com
A GARDENER’S SUPPER Theme: A day of quick
a luxury kitchen. The school, run by sisters Isabel and Lucy Bomford, was voted one of the top 25 cookery schools by Waitrose. The afternoon will be spent preparing an evening meal in the fully equipped kitchens, which are in a renovated 18th-century pantry and old stables. Champagne and canapés are served at 7.15pm, followed by a homecooked five-course meal. B&B is available at the School at a cost of £35 per person.
and easy recipes with the emphasis on using home-grown produce, at The Orchards Cookery School in Worcestershire.
GRASSES, THE GARDEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
When: Fri 28 May Number of places: 16
Theme: A day with RHS
Start time: 10am-9.30pm
Chelsea gold medallist and grass expert
Venue: The Orchards, Salford Priors, Nr
Neil Lucas at Knoll Gardens.
Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 8UU.
When: Wed 15 Sept and Wed 13 Oct
www.orchardscookery.co.uk
Number of places: 20
Cost: £190 (includes all ingredients)
Start time: 10.30am-4pm
The perfect day for the gardener-cook. Start with a tour of the kitchen garden that belongs to the Georgian farm house, and then enjoy cooking a four-course lunch in
Venue: Knoll Gardens, Wimborne, Dorset
118
The English Garden
BH21 7ND. www.knollgardens.co.uk Cost: £95, to include £10 lunch voucher.
After a welcome tea or coffee, you’ll tour
the exquisite four-acre garden, which is at its best in late summer and autumn, and famous for its use of ornamental grasses. This is followed by an ornamental grasses masterclass led by the garden’s owner, Neil Lucas, M.I.Hort, author, RHS judge and the UK’s leading authority on ornamental grasses. Lunch is at the Haybarn Coffee Shop, just under half a mile from Knoll. The restaurant is part of Littlemoors Farm Shop, which stocks more than 600 local products, from cheese to biscuits. Spend your £10 voucher on a buffet lunch and you’ll also receive a 10% discount on any purchases in the shop. After lunch, Neil talks on ‘Why saving the planet starts in the garden’. This is the first course that Neil is running on behalf of the new Knoll Gardens Foundation. It looks at how to take Knoll’s naturalistic style of gardening one step further, combining beauty with wildlife and environmental factors. To conclude the day, you’ll have the chance to browse the nursery’s fabulous collection of grasses and perennials.
WHICHFORD/LIZ EDDISON
Cost: £95
Enjoy a guided tour of the workshop, then join the lively morning tea break with the pottery team. Have a go at working with clay by decorating a house or name plate (items can be collected at a later date or delivered at cost). After a picnic lunch (provided by yourself), you’ll take a guided tour of Jim Keeling’s private garden. This will be followed by a container-planting demonstration with head gardener Harriet Rycroft. Finish the day with tea and cakes, and an opportunity to shop at a 10% discount - flowerpots, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and garden accessories.
BOOK NOW
Events Calendar 2010
to reserve your place
FROM THE EDITOR We are thrilled to be offering our readers seven exclusive reader events throughout 2010. I’m convinced there is something here for everyone, and buying a day for a friend or relative would make a great gift. I have personally visited all the venues and met all the hosts, so you can feel confident that each day will be professional, informative, fun and practical. I plan for either me or a member of the team to join you on each day, so we look forward to CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Jim Keeling, the
sharing great experiences with you.
founder of Whichford Pottery, at work; the stunning house and garden of The Orchards Cookery School; Knoll Gardens; the nursery at Knoll; and a basket of goodies from Littlemoors Farm Shop.
EVENTS IN BRIEF
DESIGN Theme: A day with garden designer and writer
nurtured’. Lunch at the Tiltyard Café (included in the price) followed by an afternoon lecture on plants that will change your life, followed by Q&A with James.
James Alexander-Sinclair, at Hampton Court Palace, Surrey. When: Fri 17 Sept
27 April - Whichford Pottery (Warwickshire) £95 28 May - Cooking a gardener’s supper (Worcestershire) £190 15 Sept - Knoll Gardens (Dorset) £95
BAKING FOR GARDENERS
Number of places: 15
17 Sept - Design day (Surrey) £130 21 Sept - Whichford Pottery (Warwickshire) £95
Start time: 10am-3.30pm
When: Sat 9 October
9 Oct - Baking for gardeners
Venue: Hampton Court Palace,
Number of places: 16
(Worcestershire) £140
East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.
Start time: 10am-5.30pm
www.klc.co.uk
Venue: The Orchards, Salford Priors,
Cost: £130
Nr Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 8UU.
Would you like help on everything from choosing plants, framing views, placing the perfect terrace or sorting out that annoying bit of garden where nothing will grow? Experience all of this and more at Hampton Court Palace with KLC School of Design and leading garden designer James AlexanderSinclair who is our new columnist ‘The Rake’ (pg 10) and discover how to make the most of your garden. Coffee followed by an introduction and talk, and an illustrated insight into ‘How gardens are born and
www.orchardscookery.co.uk Cost: £140 (includes all ingredients)
Enjoy a tour of the kitchen garden at The Orchards Cookery School and then get stuck into cooking a four-course lunch. After lunch, take a walk around the garden, then it’s an afternoon of baking cakes and goodies to take home. Conclude the day with afternoon tea. The kitchen and atmosphere are very friendly and incredibly professional. B&B accommodation is available at the School at £35 per person.
13 Oct - Knoll Gardens (Dorset) £95
BOOK NOW Please call Vicky Kingsbury, tel: +44 (0)1242 211073 or email Victoria.kingsbury@ archant.co.uk to reserve your place, or to find out more information.
The English Garden
119
RULES/WEB
On our website... GREAT VALUE PRICES ON BOOKS, PLANTS AND TOOLS AT WEB EXCLUSIVE SHOPPING OFFERS These new lightweight breathable nylon fabric gauntlet gloves are perfect for spring pruning. Protecting hands and arms from thorns, they also have a durable synthetic suede on the palm and are reinforced with a rubberised grip on the fingers. The fabric is snag-resistant and machine washable. ETHEL ROSE GAUNTLET RRP £22 ● SPECIAL ONLINE PRICE £19.99
(plus £3.95 P&P)
SPECIAL ONLINE DEALS!
EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR READERS 3 EXTRA MONTHS’ FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR FRIENDS OF KILVER COURT
For the perfect gift or as a treat for yourself, why not join Friends of Kilver Court for a year and receive an additional three months for free. The benefits include 10% off all your purchases in the Sharpham Park farm shop and 10% discount in the Mulberry factory shop (situated next door). Kilver Court, the ‘Secret Garden of Somerset’, is not to be missed. Single membership £15 per annum. Family membership £25. Offer ends August 2010. For the code to receive this discount, go to www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
www.theenglishgarden.co.uk Our website is packed with design tips, photography, competitions, events and advice on jobs to do now. Fully interactive, you can have your say too. Visit us at...
THE ENGLISH GARDEN COMPETITION AND OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS ● The publishers reserve the right to add to, amend or waive any of these rules at any time. These rules apply to all competitions in any magazine published by Archant Ltd. ● No competition prize can be transferred or assigned to any other person and no cash alternative or alternative prize is available. In the event of the advertised competition prize being unavailable for whatever reason, The English Garden is not responsible and is not required to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. ● Entries are to be made on the official form printed in the magazine, or in the manner described in the magazine. Incomplete entries are invalid. ● Where an entry fee is specified in the magazine, entries must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Entries not accompanied by the appropriate fee are invalid. ● Entries that contain false or misleading information are invalid. In particular, where a minimum age limit is stated in the magazine, any entrant who gives false information will be disqualified. ● The closing date for entries is as printed in the relevant issue of the magazine. Where no closing date is shown on offers and competitions, the closing date is the last day of the month shown on the cover of the magazine. Entries received after the closing dates are invalid. The publishers reserve the right to vary the closing date for entries at their absolute discretion. ● The winner will be the first correct entry or entries to be drawn after the closing date. ● All winners will be notified individually by post or email, or the winners’ details may be published in the magazine, at the publishers’ discretion. ● It is a condition of entry that entrants consent to their name and photograph being published in the magazine without fee if they win. ● The publishers’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into. ● The prize is as stated in the magazine. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in the printed details of the magazine. ● The publishers reserve the right to offer the same prize or prizes in different titles and or different editions of the same magazine. ● The value of the prize stated in the magazine is an approximate only; it is based upon the sponsors’ or suppliers’ full recommended retail price, and may include carriage, handling, fitting etc charges where appropriate. ● The publishers and sponsors reserve the right to change the prize in the event of the sponsor failing to supply the advertised prize for whatever reason. ● The prize, or part of the prize, is subject to availability. The publishers and sponsors reserve the right to substitute it with another, at their absolute discretion. ● The prize is not transferable, and cannot be exchanged for goods and services. No cash alternative is available. ● The publishers reserve the right to withhold the prize where, in their sole judgement, none of the entries reaches a sufficient high standard. ● Proof of postage of goods to the winner constitutes supply of the prize. ● The publisher and/or sponsors will not be liable for loss or damage of the prize in transit. ● The publishers will not be liable for accident, injury or loss caused by the prize, or resulting in any way from entry into the competition. ● The publishers make no warranty as to the quality of the prize, its fitness for any particular purpose, or the standard of workmanship where applicable. ● The competition is void where prohibited by law.
The English Garden
121
GARDENS to enjoy DYFFRYN GARDENS St Nicholas Vale of Glamorgan
Dyffryn Gardens, set in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan Countryside, is an exceptional example of Edwardian Garden
CF5 6SU
design. Within the 55-acre gardens is a series of stunning Tel: 029 2059 3228
outdoor garden rooms, an impressive arboretum, formal lawn areas, a fernery and much more, all of which helps to make
Email: [email protected]
Dyffryn one of Wales’ number one gardens. Please check out the website for upcoming Easter events as well as further events
Website: www.dyffryngardens.com
throughout the season.
OUTSIDE ART - GARDEN SCULPTURE EXHIBITION Outside Art Russells Quarry Garden & Avondale Library Garden Mill Hill Bagington Coventry CV8 3AG
Outside Art has quickly established itself as one of the 'must see'
T: 07799311438 E: [email protected] Sponsored by
Opening hours: 11am - 4pm
sculpture exhibitions of the year. Set in lovely surroundings, the artwork is wide-ranging in style and appeals to all tastes and budgets. There are over 300 sculptures on display and for sale. Exhibition Dates: 12 -27 June 2010 Admission fee: £5.00
www.thegardeningwebsite.co.uk www.outsideart.org.uk
TITSEY PLACE HOUSE AND GARDENS Address Titsey Hill Oxted Surrey Information Line: 01273 715359 www.titsey.org
Titsey Place, with its stunning garden, lakes, woodland walks, walled kitchen garden and park offering panoramic views, enchants visitors. Enjoy the fine family portraits, furniture, a beautiful collection of porcelain and a marvellous set of four Canaletto pictures of Venice. After visiting the mansion house and grounds, why not relax in our new tea room where light refreshments are available.
Admission charges House & Garden £7, Garden Only £4.50, Children Under 16 £1, Woodland walks Free and open 365 days.
Opening Times - Mid May to end of September: Wednesdays, Sundays. May and August Bank Holidays – 1-5pm. Garden only on Easter Monday. Garden only open every Saturday during opening season. Open exclusively for groups by arrangement. The Church of St James is open from Easter Sunday - 31st October each Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank holidays.
WATERPERRY GARDENS Waterperry, Near Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1JZ Tel: 01844 339254 Fax: 01844 339883 [email protected] www.waterperrygardens.co.uk Opening times: 10am to 5.30pm March to October 2010. 10am to 5pm November and December 2010. Closed between Christmas and New year. Party bookings welcome by arrangement.
8 acres of inspirational landscaped gardens featuring rose, alpine and formal knot gardens, a water lily canal, riverside walk and one of the finest purely herbaceous borders in the country. This beautiful estate in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside also has a quality plant centre, art gallery, teashop and museum and is famous for apple juice produced from our own orchards. Arts, crafts and gardening courses are also available and there’s a full programme of annual events including outdoor theatre. For
more
information
and
ticket
prices
visit
www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
BROCHURE DIRECTORY
ELIZABETH BRADLEY DESIGNS Beautiful Needlework and Accessories Red Poppy – New Botanical Design from Elizabeth Bradley Designs. Stand No. A14, Hampton Court
More beautiful new designs available now at www.elizabethbradley.com Email: [email protected] or call 01865 339 050
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
THE DIRECTORY ACCESSORIES
Beautiful, practical supports for the garden, including designs for herbaceous perennials, roses, shrubs and climbing plants.
Leander Products, Idridgehay, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2SL
TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION PLEASE CALL EMILY LUCAS ON 01242 216081
Traditional Seed boxes & Storage Racks Brand your own: Family Name, House Name, Garden Name, Business Name
From £6.50 each + p&p (minimum order 6 for seed boxes)
From £24 each for storage racks. Allow 28 days for delivery Tel: 01653 692055 or Mob: 07980 276820 Over the Garden Wall Sithean Mor, Achnaha, Kilchoan, Argyll, PH36 4LW For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
The English Garden
To advertise contact Emily Lucas tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: [email protected]
Made in England
THE DIRECTORY ARTS AND CRAFTS
BRIDGES
COURSES
A CERAMIC MODEL OF YOUR HOME Call me or visit my website Richard A. Rogers
RAR Ceramics Tel: 01777 703711 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rarceramics.co.uk
To advertise contact Emily Lucas tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: [email protected]
BLINDS & CURTAINS
GREENHOUSES
TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION PLEASE CALL
EMILY LUCAS ON 01242 216081 PET SERVICES
The English Garden
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
THE DIRECTORY GARDEN DESIGN
WILDLIFE
NURSERIES
To advertise contact Emily Lucas tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: [email protected]
TO ADVERTISE IN Sally Court, Dip ISD, FSGD,
RHS award winning designer, provides a professional, creative design service for all garden styles from the smallest backyard to several acres, formal or cottage, from scratch to restoration. A personal approach to complement client’s individual requirements. Courtyard Garden Design, The Workshop, 32 Broadway Avenue, East Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1RH Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 8892 0118 Email: [email protected]
THE CLASSIFIED SECTION PLEASE CALL
EMILY
LUCAS ON 01242 216081
HEDGING AND TOPIARY HOPES GROVE NURSERIES
THE HEDGING PLANT SPECIALISTS Our full colour brochure is FREE on request and includes: HEDGING, YOUNG TREES, AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS, CONIFERS, CLIMBERS, GROUND COVER, ORNAMENTAL GRASSES, SPECIMEN TREES, TOPIARY & FRUIT. VISITORS WELCOME BY APPOINTMENT HOPES GROVE NURSERIES, SMALLHYTHE ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT, TN30 7LT Tel: 01580 765600 Fax: 01580 766894 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk All enquiries and Credit/Debit card orders welcome. Mail order specialist: nationwide delivery. Nursery open 9-5 Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. VISA, SWITCH, M.CARD, DELTA, AMEX
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
The English Garden
THE DIRECTORY PLANTS
PONDS
131 Theobalds Park Road, Crews Hill, Enfield, Middx EN2 9BB, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 8367 8809 [email protected]
To advertise contact Emily Lucas tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: [email protected]
WATERLILIES & AQUATIC SPECIALISTS
ROSES
Bog and moisture loving plants Butyl pool liners and accessories Please send 2x1st class stamps for catalogue to:
Mimmacks Aquatics Woodholme Nursery, Goatsmoor Lane, Stock, Essex CM4 9RS (Dept TEG10) Telephone: 01277 840204
www.mimmacks.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE IN THE Specimen plant nursery and garden design centre. We supply architectural specimen trees and shrubs including olives and hardy palms. Also wide selection of colourful perennials, and drought-tolerant grasses.
CLASSIFIED SECTION
WWW.PARAMOUNTPLANTS.CO.UK
EMILY LUCAS ON 01242 216081
PLEASE CALL
POTS & ORNAMENTS
PERHILL PLANTS
HEDGING AND TOPIARY
Worcester Road, Great Witley, Worcestershire, WR6 6JT tel:01299 896329 email:[email protected]
Specialist growers of rarer more unusual perennials. Online shop @ www.perhillplants.co.uk Mail order catalogue available.(six 2nd class stamps please). Open most weekdays, 9am-5pm (Closed weekends)
NURSERIES
Encourage wildlife to your garden. Plants and seeds of wildflowers, native trees, shrubs, climbers, bulbs, meadows, etc. Visitor centre open April 1st-Sept 30th, 11am-5.30pm daily at Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Notts.
Colour catalogue and growing guide, send 4x1st class stamps. Naturescape (EG), Maple Farm, Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Notts, NG13 9HP
FOR MORE ADVERTISERS PLEASE VISIT THE ONLINE
Tel: 01949 860592 Fax: 01949 869047
DIRECTORY AT
www.naturescape.co.uk email: [email protected] Established 1978
The English Garden
WWW.THEENGLISHGARDEN.CO.UK For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
THE DIRECTORY BUILDING AND REFURBISHMENT
WEB SERVICES
Tel: 01229 581137 Email: [email protected]
Our NEW 2009 Seed Catalogue and “VegBook” offers around 4,500 items covering every horticultural interest.
www.chilternseeds.co.uk
ROSES For Every SPECIAL OCCASION
Happy Birthday
Tel: 01939 210380 OVER 1000 Varieties to Choose From
Special Anniversary
CLIMATISED COATINGS ELIMINATES HOUSE PAINTING
Climatised coatings are a superb range of external wall coatings that are tough, flexible, durable and weatherproof
DECORATIVE GRAVEL DIRECT FROM THE QUARRY
T: 01629 630139 • www.stonewarehouse.co.uk
MowWithUs.com
For all your garden machinery needs
www.gardenlines.co.uk jo thin e
Lawnmowers, Hedgecutters, Strimmers, Garden Furniture
SmartSoil Ltd • • • • • •
High build breathing coating suitable for all types of external walls All latest colourings available Nationwide service with 30 years experience Guaranteed not to flake, peel or chip for 10 years Not affected by acid rain or a salt laden atmosphere Breathing Coating
COMPOST ALL
•
PLACES TO STAY CLARE HOUSE
Park Road, Grange over Sands LA11 7HQ Tel: +44 (0) 15395 33026. www.clarehousehotel.co.uk We offer rest & relaxation, delightful meals, a garden to sit in, a promenade to saunter along and wonderful bay views and look forward to welcoming you to our family run hotel. Early Season Special Offer until April 30th Any 4-days £280.00 PP DB&B, Additional 5% discount until April 16th.
All our work is done by our own highly trained personnel,to an exceptionally high standard of detail, rarely seen these days.
.......................................................... .......................................................... ............................................................... Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To: Climatised Coatings (UK) Ltd, Freepost, Chester CH2 1ZZ or telephone Chester (01244) 378488
www.climatisedcoatingsuk.co.uk
COOKED AND UNCOOKED
Tel: 01639 701888 • Web: www.smartsoil.co.uk
This resurfacing is applied by high pressure spray by our own fully trained staff
Name . Address
•
KITCHEN WASTE INCLUDING MEAT AND FISH
DELIGHTFUL COTTAGE – peaceful location with stunning views towards Exmoor – sleeps 4 – 1 double 1 twin both ensuite – large sitting/dining area – very well equipped kitchen – private patio garden. Excellent base for visiting RHS Rosemoor, Marwood, Knightshayes and Glebe Cottage Garden. The beautiful N. Devon coast and Exmoor within easy reach. Tel: 01598 740203 – www.sannacott.co.uk
For more information visit us at www.theenglishgarden.co.uk
The English Garden
To advertise contact Emily Lucas tel: +44 (0) 1242 216081 email: [email protected]
www.countrygardenroses.co.uk
GUEST SPEAKER
Whether wall building and dances or disagreements over trees, Alastair Sawday can’t imagine any plot better than his neighbourhood’s communal garden
Alastair Sawday is the founder of the Sawday's Special Places to Stay series of guide books
snowdrops, aquilegias and countless flowers that individual residents have popped into the ground, sometimes whimsically. We have, more purposefully, planted hazel, field maple, dogwood, spindle and chestnut. An elderly yew tree has for decades served as viewing platform and play area for generations of the Crescent’s children.
This communal garden nurtures feel-good moments the way it nurtures trees... Let the rest of the world put up fences’ forgiven by the residents who live close by for shading their houses. A great ash fell in a wind and the garden was big enough to accept its fall without damage. A mulberry bush decorates the garden’s centre and the clothes of those who flirt with it in season. We have hellebores in the spring, a fine magnolia tree, and a cotoneaster that on one glorious day recently fed all its red winter berries to an invading horde of field fares and redwings. Spring gives us daffodils and 130 The English Garden
The two handsome lawns are fringed with shrubs, bushes and little trees. Upon them, as I write, lies a motley collection of halfburned Christmas trees, survivors of the Twelfth Night burning party. During the summer months, there lies a motile collection of sunbathers, many of them students revising for, or recovering from, exams. The summer has often brought out the best in us, organising garden parties and even marquees to dance in. Our parties are famous locally, and last year a couple
married in the marquee and then handed it over to the rest of us for celebrating other things. Perhaps what I most love about this communal garden is the way it both unites and divides us. Long ago, a kind-hearted woman planted a small tree in the garden to replace a dying one. The resident opposite crept out and ripped it up. The diplomatic efforts and skills applied to the unblocking of this impasse were worthy of the Middle East Peace Process. We came together, failed to find a genuine solution, but ‘dealt with it’ - and that felt good. Trees divide us like nothing else. For months, we have wrangled over whether or not to remove the limes that are growing up under the great sycamore. But we have come to a decision, to take them out, and that is it: another feel-good moment. This garden seems to nurture these moments the way it nurtures trees. Sure, we cannot grow our own vegetables, but we grow relationships and childhood memories. Let the rest of the world put up fences. Next month: our Guest Speaker is Andy McIndoe
MARK BOLTON
O
ne day the wall fell down into the lane that divides our communal garden from another. There it lay for months until the council added concrete and scaffolding to prevent further falls. The path, much loved and used, was now blocked. For about a year there was stalemate. Nobody wanted to do anything, to avoid an implied acceptance of responsibility for the wall. Meanwhile, nobody passed. Then, one day, we had a ‘Eureka’ moment. Let’s just DO it. So the community rallied around; a local engineer told us how to do it; the men made coffee and carried stones while the women placed them. We now have a beautifully rebuilt wall and some fine memories of a weekend spent communally. I remember it all with great fondness - working together is more fun than working alone. Thus it is with our garden, a long, wide, shared space that stretches for the length of 22 houses and across a wide lawn, down a wooded slope, and through brambles and bushes to the lower wall fringing that path, and another shared garden below. We have sycamores aplenty, tall and handsome, but somehow never entirely loved. We have maples, limes, silver birch and ever-optimistic young elm. Our centrepiece is a magnificent copper beech, so loved as to be
![Garden Landscapes [English/Chinese Bilingual ed.]
7538173099, 9787538173093](https://pdfs.asia/img/200x200/garden-landscapes-english-chinese-bilingualnbsped-7538173099-9787538173093.jpg)
