Tag: Gardens
Kelmarsh Hall shortlisted for the HH Garden of the Year
Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in Northamptonshire are among eight nominees for the prestigious Historic Houses award.
The Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s, recognises the importance of some of the country’s most spectacular gardens with outstanding horticultural and public appeal. The awards started have celebrated Britain’s magnificent historic parks and gardens since 1984. The non-for-profit cooperative association represents the UK’s largest collection of independently owned heritage properties.
Nestled in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside, Kelmarsh Hall is an elegant Grade I listed country house built in 1732 to a James Gibbs design and surrounded by Grade II* listed gardens set in the heart of a traditional agricultural estate. The former home of society decorator Nancy Lancaster, the “doyenne of English Country House style,” Kelmarsh still reflects the essence of her panache and flair. They are now in the care of an independent charitable trust, The Kelmarsh Trust, charged with maintaining it in perpetuity for the benefit of the nation.
The award-winning gardens include a formal terrace, horse chestnut avenues, rose gardens and the historic walled kitchen garden. Kelmarsh is open to the public to enjoy the gardens or take a guided tour of the Hall. Kelmarsh Hall, gardens and parkland can also be hired exclusively for weddings, corporate events and private parties.
The gardens ethos stems from Lancaster, an American socialite and the doyenne of English Country House style, who moved to Kelmarsh Hall in the 1920’s. Nancy brought to Kelmarsh an eclectic mixture of style, a wealth of good taste, and a love of all things beautiful. She is credited with being the originator of the shabby chic style, relaxed, a little frayed but a lot welcoming, which incidentally is exactly how one feels when walking through the grounds. Working alongside the renowned garden designer Norah Lindsay, the two women created a garden that has not only stood the test of time but continues to inspire and relate to gardeners and visitors alike. Despite their grand canvas, the gardens have an intimate, feminine feel, occasionally broken by wide pastoral views over a lost medieval village or the 18th century Lake.
The Team Behind the Gardens
The hard work, enthusiasm, and love that goes on behind the scenes is mammoth. From the very top, the Trustees and Management ensure that the Gardens ethos and structure are preserved and maintained in perpetuity for the nation. The Gardeners ensure that the life cycle of the seasons continues to reflect the floral wish lists of those that have gone before and last but not least, there is a band of enthusiastic, willing volunteers that ensure the tea, cake and smiles are forever flowing amongst the flowers.
Tracey Spokes, Head Gardener said,
“We only ever truly borrow our Gardens, and it is up to us to not only preserve our past but welcome the future.
“Everyone here knows that we are only very privileged caretakers, and despite the last twelve months of uncertainty, the gardens continue to grow and flourish.”
The Kelmarsh Trust is an independent charitable trust set up in 1982 by the last family members to reside in the Hall, the Lancaster family. The trust receives no function from the government, relying on donations, legacies and fundraising to continue to care for the hall, gardens, and wider landscape, and to keep Kelmarsh open to everyone, forever.
How to vote
The Garden of the Year is not judged by professional gardeners, but voted for by the general public who judge the gardens purely based on their enjoyment. Voting is free and open to anyone but restricted to one vote per person. Voting closes on Thursday 30 September 2021, with the results announced at the Historic Houses’ AGM in November.
If you enjoy Kelmarsh Hall Gardens they welcome you to vote on behalf of the trust, devoted head gardeners, and the team of dedicated volunteer.
To vote, click here
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Holdenby House receives Cultural Recovery Grant
Holdenby House has received a grant from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, one of more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion government grant.
When the pandemic hit, all activities at Holdenby came to an immediate standstill similar to the rest of the country. The historical House Tours, Garden Openings and Events were cancelled, weddings postponed, and their award-winning Heritage Education programme, which was founded nearly 40 years ago, came to a complete stop. Suffering the loss of all their income whilst still having to endure the cost of maintaining a historic house put the future of Holdenby in a very difficult position. This grant will help Holdenby to start the challenging process of recovery.
Reopening
The Gardens and Falconry Centre will re-open with an enhanced offering on 17th April and will be open every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until 10th October. The Education department will re-open in May following strict Covid protocols and the teams have been re-developing their Farm and Nature programmes, which, being based outdoors, are particularly Covid robust. Wedding viewings will gradually re-start and the House is planning a Homes and Gardens Fair on 29th to 31st May.
The restarting of all these activities will not only hopefully bring joy to all Holdenby’s visitors but also help to support local jobs and livelihoods. It will also mean that Holdenby can continue to support the National Garden Scheme and the wonderful nursing and health charities they help as it has done since 1927.
For more details of Holdenby’s reopening plans visit http://www.holdenby.com and follow them on social media @holdenbyhouse. Tickets for their enhanced Garden and Falconry Opening from 17th April can be pre-booked now on their website.
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Fun for all the family at Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens
Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in Northamptonshire will be looking to bring family adventures back this year with a host of new family attractions when they re-open their award-winning gardens for their 2021 open season on Easter Sunday, 4th April.
Kelmarsh was built in 1732 to a James Gibbs design and is the former home of society decorator Nancy Lancaster, the “doyenne of English Country House style”. It still reflects the essence of her panache and flair and is now in the care of an independent charitable trust, The Kelmarsh Trust, who are charged with maintaining it in perpetuity for the benefit of the nation.
Spring is always such an exciting time at Kelmarsh and this year is set to be no different with added new attractions which bring something for everyone. The Grade I listed country house which is surrounded by Grade II* listed gardens is set in the heart of a traditional agricultural estate, this season sees the introduction of picturesque walks, an enchanting fairy trail, and the welcoming of Sweet Pea’s Tea Room to the team.
Woodland and Lakeside Walks
The sweeping park that surrounds Kelmarsh Hall has a beautiful combination of picturesque walks across the parkland and gardens. The new woodland walks span across the wilderness area of Kelmarsh, framed with historic trees and winding paths to explore. Continue along the Lakeside walk for picture-perfect views of the Hall, ideal for dog walking strolls.
Fairy walk in the Kelmarsh Wilderness
We all know that fairies live at the bottom of the garden, and Kelmarsh Hall is no exception! Take a stroll along the fairy trail and keep your eyes peeled as you walk around the beautiful gardens, and through the woodland to where the fairies live. This adorable fairy trail is the perfect family outing, as they spot the tiny fairy doors, and fairy bunting, they may even spot some real fairies too!
Sweet Pea’s Tearoom arrives Kelmarsh
Tucked away in the stableyard grounds of the historic Kelmarsh hall, is the new home of the vintage-inspired Sweet Pea’s Tearoom. The much-loved team at Sweet Pea’s will bring their delicious selection of sandwiches, savoury snacks, mouth-watering cakes, and sweet treats, all handmade and locally sourced. You’ll also find all of your favourite go-to drinks, perfect for taking a stroll along the grounds. The team will be offering takeaway orders from 4th April, and outdoor seating will be available once restrictions allow, with stunning views over the hall and lakeside.
Open Season: 4th April – 30th September
You can visit Kelmarsh Gardens, woodland and lakeside walks from Sunday 4th April through to 30th September 2021 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, and Bank Holiday Mondays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
To help protect each other, Kelmarsh Hall has all of the required COVID precautions in place to ensure a safe visit. An online booking system will be in place on the website: www.kelmarsh.com, with advance booking recommended to avoid any disappointment.
You can also experience Kelmarsh’s gardens throughout the year with a season ticket, allowing access to the beautiful Grade II* listed gardens, wilderness woodland and lakeside walks throughout the open season. Tickets can be purchased for individuals or family tickets (2 adults and up to 3 children).
That’s what in store, but look out for a review of my forthcoming visit to Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in the coming months
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Celebrating blossom with the National Trust
After the success of #BlossomWatch in 2020 when thousands captured and shared images of trees in bloom across social media, the National Trust is inviting people to celebrate blossom season once again.
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Borde Hill Gardens ‘good to go’ this Autumn
As the country gradually reopens after lockdown, now is an ideal time to make the most of what is left of 2020 and plan a visit to Borde Hill Gardens.
Continue reading “Borde Hill Gardens ‘good to go’ this Autumn”
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New article added for Great Local Gardens and Historic Houses To Visit…after lockdown
The next feature in my series Great Local Gardens and Historic Houses To Visit…after lockdown has gone live.
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Second feature for Great Local Gardens and Historic Houses To Visit…after lockdown
The second in the series of short articles I am creating with a focus on heritage attractions in central England has gone live.
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‘Spring is on the way; you can smell it’, say National Trust Gardeners
The National Trust’s garden teams in the south west of England have conducted their annual flower count for Valentine’s Day and although spring seems to be on the way, what is noticeable is how many scented plants are already out in flower at this early time of year.
Gardeners from across National Trust gardens in the south west recorded 1,737 plants blooming in this year’s 12th annual Valentine’s Flower Count, which is 34% down on last year’s figure of 2,644. However, while numbers are down on 2016, they are still higher than the previous three years.
For the second year running, Saltram in Devon had the highest number of flowers recorded with 176 blooms (193 in 2016).
The more normal and cautious approach of spring compared with last year, means that we can enjoy the early flowering plants for a bit longer as the cooler conditions will help extend the flowering season of the earlier blooms and later flowering plants are on hold for warmer, sunnier conditions.
Ian Wright, the National Trust’s Gardens Advisor in the South West, said: “Our gardens are full of buds ready to burst into flower. Although our survey shows that spring isn’t here quite yet, when it does arrive it will be a good one.
“Alongside the usual signature plants of spring such as magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons, what is often overlooked is the amount of plants that have highly scented flowers at this early time of the year. They’re all out there advertising their presence by pushing out scents like perfume counters in a department store trying to attract their insect customers, which are few and far between at this early time.
“We have reports of daphne, mahonia, winter flowering honeysuckle, and witch hazel to name but a few, all of which give off sweet heady aromas and can be enjoyed at many of our gardens such as at Killerton, Knightshayes, Cotehele and Hidcote. Some types of snowdrops and other early spring bulbs add to this annual attack on your senses producing subtle and beautiful scents.”
Figures from the Met Office confirm that 2016 was one of the warmest two years on record. Such changes to our weather pose the single biggest conservation challenge to National Trust gardens and places. How we all garden, whether in a National Trust garden or at home, what plants we grow and where, may need to change.
In 2008, 3,335 plants in bloom were recorded in Devon and Cornwall, marking the earliest spring so far recorded.
Gardens in the South West are usually the furthest advanced in the UK with early spring blooms, but this year numbers are down on last year which shows our spring may be back to normal for this year at least with 907 less blooms.
In Cornwall 595 blooms were counted compared to 897 in 2016. In Devon there were 707 blooms this year compared to 1041 in 2016.
Ian Wright added: “Comparing the number of plants across our gardens on a set day every year gives us a real insight into how our gardens respond to weather patterns, and is a useful ‘barometer’ for the season ahead.”
The National Trust’s South West regional gardens which took part in the flower count were:
- Cornwall: Antony, Cotehele, Glendurgan, Lanhydrock, Trerice, Trelissick, St Michael’s Mount, Godolphin.
- Devon: Buckland Abbey, Castle Drogo, Coleton Fishacre, Greenway, Killerton, Knightshayes, Overbeck’s, Saltram, A La Ronde.
- Gloucestershire: Dyrham, Hidcote, Snowshill
- Somerset: Lytes Carey, Tintinhull, Barrington Court, Tyntesfield. Prior Park, Dunster
- Wiltshire: Avebury
- Dorset: Kingston Lacy. Max Gate.
Gardeners and volunteers count the different species and varieties in bloom in their gardens. For example, if there are two plants of the same variety of camellia, then this is counted as one not two. The same rule applies to bulbs. A plant is counted if it is showing colour with one bloom.
A survey conducted with National Trust supporters via social media in February found:
The most popular spring flower in the south west is the:
- 1st: Snowdrop – for the fourth year running.
- 2nd: Daffodil
- 3rd: Primrose
- 4th: Tulip
- 5th: Magnolia
Spring flowers in bloom in our supporters’ gardens at the moment are (last year’s figs in brackets):
- Snowdrop 79% (76%)
- Daffodil 52% (84%)
- Primrose 46% (47%)
- Cyclamen 32% (25%)
- Camellia 23%
- Rhododendron 3% (6%)
- Magnolia 1% (9%)
The National Trust is a conservation charity founded in 1895 by three people who saw the importance of our nation’s heritage and open spaces, and wanted to preserve them for everyone to enjoy.
More than 120 years later, these values are still at the heart of everything the charity does. Entirely independent of Government, the National Trust looks after more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 775 miles of coastline and hundreds of special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than 20 million people visit every year, and together with 4.5 million members and over 62,000 volunteers, they help to support the charity in its work to care for special places forever, for everyone.
For more information and ideas for great seasonal days out go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk
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Guided Tours galore at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire
Wrest Park in Bedfordshire now has so much more on offer thanks to a diverse range of fascinating guided tours
The tours not only give an insight into the history of the magnificent property, but also into 2000 years of English history.
The Garden History Tours
Available exclusively for groups, guided garden tours at Wrest Park take in some of the 90-acres of the beautiful landscape which represent almost 300 years of garden design, side by side, in one location.
They include many of its restored buildings and garden areas, which are the work of some of our greatest garden designers, including Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, whose 300th anniversary is being celebrated at Wrest Park this year, plus Batty Langley, William Kent, Thomas Wright and Thomas Archer.
Highlights directly outside the mansion include the French Parterre, which leads the eye down to the Long Water with the magnificent Archer Pavilion beyond, and the Italian Garden, Rose Garden, Walled Garden and Conservatory. Other buildings dotted throughout the landscape include the Orangery, Bath House, Bowling Green House, Chinese Temple and Bridge and the original Dairy, which houses a sculpture gallery.
‘Aladdin’s Cave’ Archaeology Tours
Guided tours with knowledgeable volunteers, take groups behind the scenes for a sneak peak at some of the 153,000 historical artefacts spanning 2000 years of English history, which have been brought together by English Heritage into a huge storage facility at Wrest Park.
Tour highlights range from small fragments of 17th-century painted window glass, buckles, brooches and coins, to larger objects such as 8 foot tall ‘bell jack’ figures of 16th century tradesmen taken from the roof of Colombia Market, plus fireplaces, staircases and even an enormous crane used for changing street light bulbs in Covent Garden.
Historical Wallpaper Tours
Groups can also pre-book ‘Wallpaper Tours’ to view the original hand painted oriental wallpaper on the walls of some of the rooms on the first floor of the mansion.
Inside Wrest Park’s 18th-century French style mansion groups can view the Countess Henrietta Sitting Room, furnished as it was in the 1840s and find out more about Wrest Park’s history in an interactive exhibition and also an exhibition which explains the role of the mansion as a convalescent home during the First World War.
The visitor centre houses a café with inside seating for 70 and outside seating for 50, an introductory exhibition, shop and plant sales area.
Heritage Open Day,
Chinese wall paper tour,
Commissioned by Sarah Watson-Jones.
All guided tours at Wrest Park cost £2.00 per group member (additional to admission charge) and are available to groups at any time, subject to availability.
However they must be pre-booked by calling 01525 860000 or emailing wrest.park@english-heritage.org.uk.
Maximum 20 people per group tour, with larger groups divided onto back to back tours.
The Landlocked Traveller 