Tours
East Riddlestone Hall: Touring The National Trust Gardens With Head Gardener Ben Cooper
IN THIS GUIDE Spring Bulbs Aplenty Exploring The Garden Greener Gardening Practices Visiting East Riddlesden East Riddleston Hall is a National Trust property in West Yorkshire that was famously used as a filming location for the 1992 and 2009 film adaptations of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. The gardens at East Riddleston were designed by Graham Stuart Thomas in the 1970s, with additional rooms added in the years that followed by the Trust. I visited the gardens on a rainy day in spring to speak with the Head Gardener Ben Cooper and explore the gardens, their history and what is currently thriving at this time of year. Spring Bulbs Aplenty “This time of year we’ve got all the spring bulbs up, so we’ve got lots of Leucojums in the main borders that add a nice splash of white,” shares Ben. “We’ve also got a lot of really nice successional bulbs, such as Snake’s Head Fritillaries and Daffodils. One particular favourite of mine is Narcissus ‘Thalia’. “In the wild garden, there are some more unusual bulbs, such as wild tulips and my personal favourite, Camassias, which will be in full bloom in a couple of weeks. “Hellebores have done particularly well this year and seem to have been in flower for weeks and weeks. We have a nice patch of hellebores tucked away in the shadier parts of the garden where they seem to cope very well.” Exploring The Garden “Our main herbaceous borders are designed in this ‘L’ shape,” explains Ben, as we walk around them. “As you can see, we’ve got some Erythroniums coming through, which addd a splash of yellow along the edges. “Although it isn’t in flower at the moment, we’ve got one of the biggest clematis I’ve ever worked on or had in a garden. It grows against our huge cherry tree, so we get the white blossom of the cherry that fades into this waterfall of clematis flowers.” “Also looking great at the moment is our herb border,” he continues. “The idea was taken from Culpeper’s Herbal, so it features herbs that would have been used at the time the Hall was first created. “We’ve got lots of herbs in here, such as Valerian, Angelica, Mugwort and Soapwort, which is particualrly interesting as when the leaves are rubbed with water, it produces a lava-like soap. “We also grow more culinary herbs on one side of the garden, so we’ve got Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, and Fennel.” “We’ve got a new section called the Wellbeing Garden, which we designed with Dementia Friendly Keighley,” says Ben. “Not only did we create this space with their practices in mind, they trained our staff to become dementia aware. “It’s under a canopy of trees, making it quite a shaded garden, so it’s a tranquil area. “There’s lots of green plants like ferns and Hostas. It also has a water feature, which adds a peaceful backdrop to the space.” Greener Gardening Practices “We try to follow greener garden principles at East Riddlesden,” says Ben. “We don’t use any chemicals in the gardens, we compost everything that we can and we shred materials so it composts quicker. “We don’t use any mains water in the garden either, so all the water we use is rainwater harvested from various rooftops. “In our composting area, we’ve got large bays filled with this year’s compost, older compost and two huge leaf piles, which we let rot down into a leaf mould that we can then use. “We can mulch our entire borders in the garden with what we produce on-site, which is something we take serious pride in.” Visiting East Riddlesden “Even though we’re quite a small garden, you can go into five or six different areas and hopefully get a different feel in each one,” explains Ben. “Because of this, we offer a variety of spaces to visit in just one garden, which means you can visit more than once.” If you want to find out more about visiting East Riddlesden Hall, head over to The National Trust’s website.
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The Stables: This Family Garden Has Been Transformed With 20,000 Planted Trees
IN THIS GUIDE Planting 20,000 Trees Exploring The Garden Opening The Garden Via The NGS At the beginning of April, I visited a private garden in Durham to uncover the story of a family who have transformed five acres of land into a flourishing garden retreat. Since settling on the property in 2013, the Little family have devoted themselves to sculpting this expanse into a garden that perfectly suits their needs. Over the span of just 11 years, they’ve meticulously divided the space into multiple garden areas and have planted an impressive twenty-thousand trees. Joined by John, Claire, and their children, I had the privilege of touring their 5 acre garden. Watch the video below or keep reading to find out what they’ve done with this vast amount of space! Planting 20,000 Trees “We’ve planted thousands of trees over the past 11 years here at The Stables,” shares John Little. “There’s some larger specimen trees that we’ve bought in, including a giant redwood, some eucalyptus and over 50 fruit trees down in the orchard. “We’ve also got some red willows at the bottom of the paddock, which look nice from the house. They’re not quite as bright at the moment as they can be, but in the winter when there’s nothing else of colour in the garden, we can see them from the house shooting up like flames. “We’ve also planted a range of native trees in a mixture of hedges and woodland areas.” Exploring The Garden “Our two herbaceous borders, known as the bog border and the Wendy border, were put in in 2020 during the pandemic,” explains John. “It was all done no dig, so we put some cardboard down and covered it in chip and grass cuttings then planted it up in autumn. “There’s all sorts of plants in here. We let stuff fight it out, that’s kind of the way we work. If it doesn’t survive, then it doesn’t survive and we don’t plant it again.” “Our mounded area was developed with some trees from the Woodland Trust,” he continues. “Before we transformed this space, it was overgrown with nettles and brambles, so we used lots of elbow grease and cleared it all off. The trees are now doing all the hard work for us, as they shade the ground off in summer to prevent grass from running wild. “We put in more interesting shade-tolerant plants, such as ferns, ivy and comfrey and then decided we were going to build this bridge through, so we tunnelled out underneath to make a six-foot gap so you can walk underneath it. “Some people really love the train bed we have in our garden that features a little model railway running through it. “We’ve tried to develop it with lots of small plants so there’s a backdrop to the toy train and we’re now extending it with a second bed over to the other side. “We’re also going to put a pond in at the front here with a stream coming through the gap between the two.” Opening The Garden Via The NGS “My parents opened their garden for the NGS just after I left university actually, so they’ve been open for 20 odd years now,” explains John. “With our garden, we had the opportunity as it got to a suitable state to also open for the NGS so it just seemed a natural thing to do. “We love showing people around the garden, we love having people come in and see the space. The feedback you get from people about how much they enjoy the garden is very rewarding.” The Stables is open through the National Garden Scheme on the 23rd June 2024.
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Wentworth Castle Gardens Boasts Three National Plant Collections: We Visit In Spring
IN THIS GUIDE Changing The Legacy Of Wentworth National Plant Collections Notable Areas Of The Garden Visiting Wentworth Castle Gardens Wentworth Castle Gardens stands as South Yorkshire’s only Grade I listed landscape. Encompassing a vast garden, an 18th-century castle, and spanning over 500 acres of expansive parkland, the estate offers plenty to explore. I visited the gardens in late March to find out more about the history of the estate and the three National Plant Collections in the gardens. Changing The Legacy Of Wentworth The construction of the house and gardens in the late 17th century was a retaliatory gesture by its proprietor, Thomas Wentworth, who had missed out on inheriting Wentworth Woodhouse, an estate situated merely six miles from the current location of Wentworth Castle. Today, the college serves an amazing purpose, aiding individuals impacted by modern slavery and addiction, having assisted thousands through its programs over its four-decade history. National Plant Collections Wentworth Castle Gardens boasts three national plant collections: Williamsii hybrid Camellias, species Magnolias, and species and hardy hybrid Rhododendrons. During my visit, the Camellias were particularly striking, but I was fortunate to witness all three of these exquisite blooms. The garden hosts over 100 types of magnolias, 100 camellias, and 300 types of Rhododendrons – each displaying a diverse array of shapes and sizes. Among the most impressive displays were found along the shrubbery walk and on the outskirts of the fernery, just below Stainborough Castle. Here, I found myself surrounded by expansive flowering shrubs, including some of my personal favourites such as the stunning hybrid Magnolia ‘Pink Crown’ and the vibrant red-flowering Rhododendron thomsonii. Notable Areas Of The Garden Stainborough Castle, situated atop the gardens, commands a view of the estate. Constructed in 1731, it was intentionally crafted to resemble medieval ruins, creating the illusion of centuries-old presence. Positioned strategically, it offers an ideal viewing point to survey both the gardens and the expansive parkland beyond. Also nestled within the garden is a Victorian conservatory, a haven for exotic plants from around the world. Remarkably, this conservatory pioneered the use of electrical lighting in the country, predating even Buckingham Palace and the Royals. Following its restoration in 2013, it now hosts an array of splendid flora, including white flowering calla lilies and various succulents like Crassula ovata. Towards the rear of the garden lies the Victorian flower garden, which exudes charm with its formal white and pink beds adorned with Bellis perennis and Geraniums. Visiting Wentworth Castle Gardens There’s an abundance of attractions awaiting exploration at Wentworth Castle Gardens, whether you’re up for a leisurely stroll around the park to catch glimpses of deer or you want to look at the flowers in the formal gardens. For further information, visit the National Trust website.
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Historic Glasshouse Tour At Winterbourne House & Garden With Daniel Cartwright
IN THIS GUIDE History & Design Jekyll’s Influence In The Garden The Glasshouses Visiting Winterbourne Winterbourne House & Garden is owned by the University of Birmingham and is a Grade II Listed garden that was originally built by the Nettlefold family in 1904. The garden is one of the few surviving Edwardian Arts and Crafts style gardens from that period and was heavily influenced by the work of Gertrude Jekyll, a key figure in the movement at the time. I was lucky enough to meet with Daniel Cartwright, the Head Gardener at Winterbourne who has worked there for almost eighteen years. History & Design “In total, there were three private families that owned Winterborne in the entirety of its history,” says Daniel. “When the head of the final family John Nicholson died in 1944, he bequeathed the house and garden to the University of Birmingham, and it’s been owned by the university ever since. “Gertrude Jekyll was the preeminent arts and crafts garden designer in the Edwardian period. “Our lady of the house, Margaret Nettlefold, designed the garden herself, but she was very much inspired by the work of Gertrude Jekyll and in particular, Jekyll’s 1899 publication Wood and Garden. “If you look at that book, you can actually see where our lady of the household has taken pieces of Jekyll’s design and transferred them directly to the design here at Winterbourne.” Jekyll’s Influence In The Garden “The garden area where you can see Jekyll’s influence the most is on the south side of the house looking down from the terrace across one of our colour-themed herbaceous borders,” he continues. “There is an arts and crafts motif in this area of the garden in the form of the pink and blue herbaceous border. “You can also see her influence when looking down into the nut alley, which we call the nut walk, which is planted predominantly with hazelnuts.” The Glasshouses “At Winterbourne, we have a small glasshouse range,” explains Daniel. “There is one original glasshouse from the Edwardian period in our walled garden and then we have four more much more modern glasshouses, which were all built from the university period onwards. “Our largest modern glasshouse, the Gilbert Orchid House, is home to lots of different tropical species – not just orchids. “Most tropical orchid species are epiphytic, and that means they grow on the branches of other trees or shrubs. “They’re not parasitic, they don’t do any damage to that host plants, they simply anchor themselves on there, and then they suck moisture out of the very humid air using aerial roots. “We have lots of epiphytes such as Tillandsia and Bromeliads in this glasshouse.” “We’ve also got quite a substantive alpine collection at the gardens,” he continues. “Our alpine house was built some time in the early 2000s and the plants look particularly good at this time of year. “Probably the most interesting thing we’ve got on displays are our Lewisias. “They add great value to the alpine house because they flower the heads off right the way throughout March and April. “Our arid house is where we grow the majority of our cacti and succulents. “Most of the specimens in here were donated by members of the local cacti and succulent society. “My favourite planting here is actually one of the most common succulents that that you can buy or grow in this country and that’s Agave. “This variegated one that we’ve got here is a cultivar called Agave americana ‘Mediopicta Alba’. “I like them because they’re so statuesque and architectural.” Visiting Winterbourne “I hope that when people visit Winterbourne they see an inspiring and creative garden, as well as a space in which horticulturists are using their creativity and imagination,” Daniel shares. “I hope they see a garden that’s continually changing and evolving and that never stops in time but keeps moving forward. “We don’t always get it right, of course, but I hope people see that we’re always attempting to push that evolution forward and to do so creatively and imaginatively. “In turn, I hope that inspires people to take that philosophy and attitude back into their gardens at home.”
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These Japanese Gardens, Designed At Gatton Park In 1909, Were Lost For 50 Years
IN THIS GUIDE The Gatton Park Trust & The ‘Lost Garden’ Features Of The Japanese Garden Spring Highlights Discover More Tucked away in acres of Surrey parkland on the Gatton estate lies a Japanese Garden that once was ‘lost’ for over 50 years. Yes, you heard that right – this beautiful garden, originally designed in 1909, became completely abandoned until the late 20th Century when it was reconstructed back to its former glory. Now celebrating the 25th year since its restoration, I decided to travel down to Reigate in Surrey to visit this small, unique garden and to find out more about how it was rediscovered. The Gatton Park Trust & The ‘Lost Garden’ “It’s a long way back now that our charity first began volunteering in 1995,” shares the Head of the Gatton Trust Louise Miller. “At that time, someone living on the estate who was fascinated by the history here approached a television production company who were planning on transforming historic gardens in only five days. “Luckily we were selected to be one of those gardens.” “The Japanese Garden at Gatton Park was originally commissioned by Jeremiah Coleman, the great mustard man, in the early 1900s,” explains Dan Ryan, the Head Gardener at Gatton Park. “He sadly passed away in 1941 and the estate was disbanded, which meant that, unfortunately, the gardens were lost for many decades. “It wasn’t until the Gatton Trust was formed in the 1990s that the interest in the gardens started to take shape again.” “Before the restoration process, you wouldn’t have been able to see anything here,” he continues. “It would have been completely overgrown and the plants were completely out of sight. “It looked like a swampy mess, so the ponds had to be dug out and redesigned, as was the tea hut and cascade.” Features Of The Japanese Garden “The garden isn’t an authentic Japanese garden per se because it doesn’t show the same qualities as some of the specific gardens from Japan at the time,” Dan says. “However, it has those elements that you’d expect to see in a Japanese garden, such as the bridge, the flowing water, the lanterns and acers. “That’s what gives it its character, so we try to manage it now as an Edwardian interpretation of a Japanese garden rather than the real deal. “Every Japanese garden should have a tea hut, and ours is one of the key features in the garden landscape,” he adds. “When you’re stood up underneath it, you get the best view of the garden itself as you are looking over it. “My favourite view from here is to look across towards the bridge, as you get the reflection in the water and the fantastic stems of those Japanese black pines.” “One of the more recent features of our Japanese garden here is the glade of flowering cherry trees that we planted about three years ago,” continues Dan. “We planted 100 trees that were donated by the Japanese Embassy which included three different flowering varieties to give the breadth of interest over the spring. “The variety flowering here at the moment is Prunus × yedoensis ‘Somei-Yoshino’ and it’s one of the most widely planted flowering cherries in Japan. “It’s an early pink, flowering cherry that will be followed by two other varieties.” Spring Highlights “We’re in early spring at the minute and things are just starting to take off in the garden,” shares Dan. “We’ve already had Snowdrops, so now the Daffodils are now just coming through. You can also see Primroses which are starting to carpet around the back of the garden. “These are then followed by Hellebores, which I love. They have that beautiful open bell-shaped flower and then the nice architectural leaves that remain on the plant throughout the summer.” “One of my favourite little plants in the garden is the Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’,” he states. “It’s a fantastic dwarf flowering cherry and at the minute it just looks perfect, with beautiful, delicate flowers. Come summertime when the flowers go, you’ll barely even notice it, but right now, it’s got a nice little charm.” Discover More “Looking after the garden is a privilege and seeing it develop over during my time here has been great,” says Dan. “We’ve come a long way I think in the last 25 years since the restoration of the garden and hopefully that’ll carry on right into the future.” Gatton Park is a private garden that is open on selected days throughout the year. To find out more about the open days and when you can visit, make sure to visit their website.
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Oasis Community Gardens: They Turned A Derelict Field Into A Thriving Garden
IN THIS GUIDE The Garden’s Origins How The Gardens Are Run Exploring The Gardens At Oasis Gardening For The Community The volunteers at Oasis Community Gardens in Worksop have transformed 2 acres of derelict field into a thriving community garden in just 12 years. When work began, there were no trees or flowers – it was just a completely empty space. Now, it’s a beautifully planted garden with several different areas made to serve members of the community in their own unique way. In March, we visited the community gardens to discover more about the gardens. The Garden’s Origins The gardens were once an abandoned site, presenting a huge challenge for the team when they first inherited the space. I spoke with Steve Williams, the Project Manager at Oasis Community Centre to find out how they began to transform this barren space into the incredible gardens you see today. “We first started working with the local community to see what they would enjoy having on their doorstep,” Steve explains. “From there, we’ve raised the money to buy and build everything from a dome greenhouse to play equipment for the children. “The community has had all the involvement in what’s planted and how it’s developed.” How The Gardens Are Run “Because of the community aspect, we manage the garden in a different way to most places,” shares Steve. “We don’t have any formal gardeners and instead have people who do sessional work here, but they work with people in a sort of therapeutic and educational ways. “We do a lot of teaching of all sorts of different skills, from seed planting and bulb planting, to different techniques how to take cuttings and how to grow vegetables and fruit. “Some people come for a few weeks, some people come for a few years and they become part of the family here. It’s run more as a family than a business.” Exploring The Gardens At Oasis “We started to build different areas around the site to give different experiences for the community to use,” Steve explains. “One of my favourite areas is the memory garden, also known as the butterfly corner. “It’s all about memories and a place for people to remember those who they’ve lost.” After chatting with Steve, Sessional Gardener Deborah showed me around some more beautiful areas of the garden. “This particular area, that’s looking particularly great with all the daffodils up at the moment, is called the mound,” Deborah says. “There are some beautiful bulbs in here in the summer, it’s absolutely glorious. “Because we’ve got lots planted in here, we have to be really mindful, which is why we’ve got stepping stones around it so people can do some digging and weeding without treading on the plants.” “The wildlife garden, like all of the space at Oasis, is a work in progress,” says Deborah, as we step into another corner of the garden. “We’re not professional gardeners, but we just enjoy the outdoors and people come to us for all sorts of reasons, just to enjoy getting their hands dirty, taking part and simply having a go. “That’s what we’re all about: just having a go. “In this space, we usually just pull the grass back so that people can see the path that meanders. “This allows the wildlife areas to remain untouched and ensures that the habitats are left in place.” Gardening For The Community “It’s been lovely to see a green space come alive by bringing a space back into use that was derelict and empty,” says Steve. “I’d encourage anyone to do that kind of thing because it’s so rewarding to see that happen. “When the sun shines, you could be anywhere in the world. It’s a little oasis in the middle of nowhere.” If you’d like to find out more about Oasis Community Gardens and the work that they do, head over to their website.
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Meeting Nick Fraser From National Trust Property Nunnington Hall Gardens
IN THIS GUIDE History Of Nunnington Hall Meet Nick Fraser – The Head Gardener The Gardens At A Glance Six Bay Composting System Discover More In early March I was lucky enough to visit the gardens at Nunnington Hall in North Yorkshire. The hall surrounded by the grounds is thought to have been built in the 16th Century and must be one of the most impressive country houses in England. The gardens at Nunnington have been run organically since 2002 and continue to be a front-runner in alternative organic methods and technologies. I met with Nick Fraser, the Head Gardener at Nunnington, for a tour of the grounds. KEY FEATURES: Cutting Garden, Wildlife Tunnel, Lime Avenue WHEN TO VISIT: Year Round ADMISSION PRICE: £11.00 ADDRESS: Nunnington, near York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5UY WEBSITE: National Trust History Of Nunnington Hall “Nunnington Hall was left to The National Trust by the Fife family in the 1950s,” Head Gardener Nick Fraser shares. “However, some of the family members stayed on here until the late 1970s, after which the Trust finally took over and we opened it up as the visitor attraction that you see today. “The original layout that we see at Nunnington Hall dates back to the 17th century. “The original topography of the land and the walls have gone through several changes over time, but the period we’re most interested in is the 1920s. “This was when the Fife family were living here and there were major renovations through Walter Brearley across the house and the garden.” Meet Nick Fraser – The Head Gardener “I’ve been gardening here at Nunnington Hall for 21 years, originally as the assistant gardener, now I’m the head gardener,” explains Nick. “What I like most about this garden and working for The National Trust is the diversity of the job – every single day is different. “We don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. We are open to the public on most days of the week, and we meet a whole range of very interesting people. “Not only the staff and volunteers that work here with us in the garden and the house but also the visitors that come daily.” The Gardens At A Glance “My favourite area of the garden would have to be the meadow and orchard area,” shares Nick. “What I like most about it is the fact that we get several different interests and experiences throughout the season. “Eventually, at the end of the year, we cut the meadows down and then the fruit becomes the star of the show. “We opened a small part of the garden about 15 years ago called the cutting garden, which was originally closed to the public,” he continues. “It’s where we keep our composting system and cut flowers for the house, and more recently, we’ve been growing vegetables and herbs there. “It’s very popular now to grow herbs and vegetables at home and lots of people are trying it out for themselves, so because we do it on a relatively small scale, people can relate to it. “We wanted to try and maximise the use in a small garden, so we created a wildlife corridor in one of the smaller spaces of the garden. “We put a bird feeding station and a habitat log wall with a turf top in and also planted a native mixed hedge. “We also built some habitat piles and put hedgehog boxes up, as it’s a great way to show people that there’s still a lot of opportunities for wildlife in your garden, even in the smaller spaces.” Six Bay Composting System “We’re very passionate about composting here at Nunnington Hall,” says Nick. “We try and recycle and reuse as much as possible. We’re very keen to have closed-loop systems, meaning that we try not to remove any waste from the garden. “We try and utilise as much as possible to make our own compost, mulch, potting mixes and liquid feeds out of the comfrey and nettles that grow on-site, as well as the leaf mould that we collect in the car park.” To see the full composting process that takes place at Nunnington Hall, watch the short video below: Discover More The garden at Nunnington will burst into life in a few weeks, so why not plan a visit there yourself? Included in the entry for the garden is a tour of Nunnington Hall itself, so why not explore the historic building at the centre of the garden whilst you’re there? Find out more about the gardens and house at Nunnington on the National Trust’s website.
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York Gate: Head Gardener Jack Ogg Reveals 14 Garden Rooms Across Just 1 Acre
IN THIS GUIDE Meet Jack: The Head Gardener Created By The Spencer Family 14 Unique Garden Rooms Unique And Espaliered Trees York Gate In February How To Get Involved York Gate Gardens is a beautiful small garden located just outside of Leeds and is open to the public from April to October, as well as on special open days in the early spring. At just 1 acre in size, this garden has been magically divided into 14 unique rooms that were originally laid out by the Spencer family, who owned the property from 1951 to 1994, before donating it to the garden charity Perennial. We visited the gardens towards the end of February and met the gardeners who work there to see what they’re up to as their snowdrop season comes to a close. Head Gardener, Jack Ogg, also showed us around the grounds so we could get a taste of what York Gate has to offer. Watch the full video tour below or read on for a summary of our February visit to York Gate Gardens: KEY FEATURES: Espaliered & unusual trees, 14 different garden rooms WHEN TO VISIT: Summer ADMISSION PRICE: £10.00 (children free) ADDRESS: Back Church Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS16 8DW, UK WEBSITE: York Gate Gardens Meet Jack: The Head Gardener “I did my training at York Gate about 16 years ago,” explains Jack. “I then left and worked at Harewood House for about nine years, before I was asked to come back to York Gate as the Senior Gardener and then eventually moved on to become the Head Gardener. “The most rewarding thing for me is when we get the public in and they are just happy to be in the garden. “I think people’s reaction to this small garden is the highlight of working here for me.” Created By The Spencer Family “York Gate Garden is an arts and crafts style garden,” Jack shares. “It was first bought as a farm in 1951 by the Spencer family, but they quickly decided that they wanted to make a garden, and they created the 14-room space that we’ve got today. “In 1998, the last remaining member of the Spencer family died, and in her will, she left York Gate to the gardener’s charity, Perennial. “Perennial owns York Gate as well as another four gardens around the country. They’re a fantastic charity for gardeners and those that work in horticulture.” 14 Unique Garden Rooms During our visit, Jack took us around all 14 of the unique garden rooms in the 1-acre space. “The first room you get to is the maze garden,” he says. “This was the original entrance to the garden where Sybil Spencer would sit and welcome people into the space. This would have been the first room they’d see. “Following on from that room is the old orchard and then the pinetum. The pinetum was planted as a collection of dwarf and unusual conifers and, as you can see, some of them are not so dwarf anymore!” “Sybil’s Garden is the tropical garden here at York Gate. We were very lucky that we were donated quite a big collection of tropical-themed plants. “These included 11 tree ferns, 5 different Scheffleras, a collection of bananas and some palms. Using these, we’ve made this space into a little jungle-like garden.” “One of my favourite spots in the garden is the succulent house. Here, we keep a collection of true cacti and other succulents,” Jack continues. “Visitors love some of the Aeoniums we have that grow from the cracks of the wall year-round. Some are even in flower right now!” In addition to the rooms mentioned, there is also a white garden, herb garden, kitchen garden and rockery, as well as several other different rooms that look especially good later on in the year. Unique And Espaliered Trees “My favourite tree in the whole garden is Sequoiadendron giganteum ‘Pendulum’ and it’s a weeping form of the giant sequoias in America,” he shares, as we stand in front of this wonderful weeping coniferous specimen. “The Brewer’s Spruce in the centre of the pinetum is another fantastic tree. We should probably cut it down, but it’s fantastic, so we’re not going to.” Despite these wonderfully rare trees, the star of the show at York Gate is one of a kind according to Jack: “The espaliered Blue Cedar along the front of this wall is probably our most popular attraction. “It’s a Cedrus atlantica Glauca and it’s been trained and clipped into this espalier form. There’s not one like it anywhere else in the UK. “Behind that we’ve also got an espaliered Pyracantha on the house wall, which is another great find, as well as the iconic yew sails that are unique to York Gate.” York Gate In February “We’ve just had our snowdrop event here at York Gate and currently we have about 60 or so different varieties on show,” shares Jack. “Our feature snowdrop at York Gate is one called ‘S. Arnott’. It is a G. nivalis type but it’s extra tall. It’s not double or fancy in any way, but it’s a wonderful snowdrop and it’s definitely one of our favourites. “Even though our snowdrops are the show at this time of year, February is a great time to come to see the bones and structure of the garden, including the clipped hedges and the different topiary shapes that we have here.” How To Get Involved “One of the main ways to support Perennial that would also help us out at York is to become a member of Perennial,” says Jack. “From that, you get a year-round membership and you get to visit all of Perennial’s gardens throughout the country, which means you could come to York Gate once a week if you wanted to!” To find out more about York Gate and its upcoming open dates, visit their website here.
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Garden Manager Steve Williams Reveals York Museum's Historic Gardens
IN THIS GUIDE A Garden Full Of History Steve’s Journey Into Gardening Touring The Gardens Putting Wildlife At The Forefront Spring Highlights Fancy A Day Out? York Museum Gardens is based in the centre of York and is open to the public free of charge year-round. The gardens are part of the York Museums Trust, a charity whose work is aimed at preserving and sharing the history of York through running and maintaining some of the city’s most valuable museums and galleries. I headed to the gardens to meet with the Garden Manager Steve Williams, who was kind enough to show me around the historic grounds. We explored the rich history of these grounds and the work Steve and his team are doing to keep wildlife and nature at the forefront of the work they are doing. Watch the full tour on our YouTube channel: KEY FEATURES: Historic Ruins / Fern Garden / Spring Bulbs WHEN TO VISIT: Year Round ADMISSION PRICE: Free ADDRESS: Museum St, York, YO1 7FR WEBSITE: York Museum Gardens A Garden Full Of History One of the most unique elements of the York Museum Gardens is the deep history connected to the grounds. “The museum gardens were created in the late 1830s,” shares Steve, as we stand in the Edible Garden, where the ruins of the Abbey can be seen in the background. “The Yorkshire Philosophical Society, which still exists today, were lobbying for a portion of land where they could build a museum to store the various items they had collected. “They were granted this but one of the conditions was that they had to create a botanical garden in this space. “However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that this space was opened to the public.” So, what’s the story with those stunning ruins that make the garden what they are? “The gardens are built on the site of a Benedictine Abbey that was the powerhouse of the North,” Steve explains. “It was constructed in around 1270 and took around 20 years to complete. It was eventually destroyed by Henry VIII in the 1600s after he abolished the monasteries, but the remains have been preserved and can be seen throughout the grounds today.” Steve’s Journey Into Gardening “I grew up with gardening, but after studying Law at university, I ended up working in the insurance industry for a number of years,” Steve shares. “When I moved into a new home in 2006, I started trying to grow plants in the greenhouse that was on the property. This brought me back to my youth and I decided from there that I wanted to pursue a career in gardening. “I took a leap of faith, but it was worth it for me as I wanted to be out there in nature doing the work. “When you come to things late, you’ve got that real passion for it. I did some work volunteering and self-studied for my qualifications and ended up working at some of the top gardens in the North of England. “I came in to York Museum Gardens around 2019 and have been working to make some significant changes in the space that I’m really proud of. “We’re starting to see the garden transform, we’re expanding the garden diversity, we’re gardening in a more environmentally-friendly way, we’re gardening to create a habitat for wildlife and we’re making sure the garden is suitable for the whole community, as we know how important green spaces are to people.” Touring The Gardens There are various different gardens within the grounds. We started on a grassy verge where the largest parts of St Mary’s Abbey remain. “The footprint around the ruins of the abbey is the most peaceful area of the gardens,” shares Steve. “Having an open green space just to exist is really important.” I then followed Steve through an incredible rock garden full of spring bulbs, conifers and succulents. “The rock garden looks far older than it is and was actually built in the 1980s,” explains Steve. “When I came in, it was completely overgrown and it wasn’t really a rock garden in the traditional sense. We cleared it out a couple of years ago and added lots of dwarf spring bulbs to extend the season, so it looks particularly great in spring.” We also wandered through a border by the river surrounded by some lovely shrubs and grasses and past several formal beds full of trees adorned with bulbs at the base. Finally, we arrived at one of the other hidden areas of the grounds: the fern garden. If I had to pick a favourite part of the garden, this would have to take first prize, as even in February, all the foliage looked wonderful. “When I came into the garden, one of my predecessors used lots of the old stone from the ruins and created a fern garden,” says Steve, as he shows me around. “I thought it was really interesting. There’s a Wollemi pine and a Ginkgo, as well as some tree ferns which we still have wrapped up to protect from any late frosts.” Putting Wildlife At The Forefront “I want people to be able to get up close to nature and interact with wildlife, but I also want those areas which are set aside for wildlife where they can find respite,” shares Steve. “We’ve made an area next to the rock garden where we’ve been using parts of the garden such as the branch fall to create a permanent bird feeding station. “We’ve also built a dry hedge which acts as a fantastic five-star bug hotel!” Spring Highlights The original garden which surrounds the remains of the Abbey is full of daffodil drifts at this time of year, which were just starting to flower during my February visit. “Areas of the grounds like the edible garden offer great architectural interest at this time of year, as they are stripped back to their bare forms,” says Steve. “Alongside lots of spring bulbs planted in clusters, I’ve also tried to add some height to each area of the garden to elevate the space and give it that interest in the off season.” Fancy A Day Out? “If you’re in York, come and visit!” Steve says. “Come and speak to me and the team. We’re a charity, so things have been difficult, so if you’re in a position to help, please consider donating to help us continue what we are doing.” The gardens are free to enter and open almost every day of the year. You can find out more about the work the York Museums Trust does by visiting their website.
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