Parks & Gardens Trust

Newsletter No. 22 Winter 2011/12

Letter from the Chairman

The garden fatalities from last winter’s severe weather were, for many, a reminder that much loved trees and shrubs will not last forever. Illustration from map of The Laskett designed and drawn by This provides a good starting point for Jonathan Myles-Lea pondering the future of the Pitchford Tree House, one of the best known and loved garden buildings in Shropshire. For some years Pitchford Hall has had an ownership Contents which has not been sympathetic to public access. Out of sight has not been out of mind A Tale of Two Walled Gardens: and SPGT members and others have expressed concern about the maintenance and future of Attingham and Longner the famous tree house once visited by Queen Victoria. The Gentry Houses of Market The short term news seems good. After Drayton and their Landscapes English Heritage had included it on its Heritage At Risk Register in 2010 work was Association of Garden Trusts update undertaken by the owner. Conservation staff from subsequently visited, and report that repairs have been carried out, AGT Conferences 2010 & 2011 including to the access steps, resulting in the removal of the building from the At Risk Campaign for Evelyn’s garden Register. For most buildings that would be fine, but the Planning Issue: Luciefelde House, Tree House has most unusual and vulnerable foundations – the branches of what is now a very ancient lime tree. The most rigorous maintenance of this charming small building The Severn Tree Trust cannot prevent the ultimate death of the tree, despite the skills of tree surgeons and Book News & ‘Bumps’ CD recording specialists over the years. So what of its future? The fatalist option is to accept that the tree will continue to decay and Forthcoming Events although propping and a supporting

1 framework may prolong the building as a A Tale of Two Walled Gardens ‘tree’ house the point will come where safety considerations will require the removal of the It is not every day that one hears of a walled tree. Any notion of planting and nurturing a kitchen garden being renovated in the county, new tree seems in the realms of fiction and a so to have two being restored within a few steel-framed GRP-clad fake tree would look hundred yards of each other is as exciting as it like something from the playground of a is unusual. Happy Eater! After all, tree houses are, like our own lesser ‘dens’ of childhood, The gardens belong to two historic properties: essentially ephemeral. Their joy is in their Attingham Park and Longner Hall. The estates creation and active use and anyone who has lie adjacent to each other close by Atcham visited Alnwick with its tree house restaurant village, and it is a happy coincidence that the will agree that the spirit of tree houses is alive two gardens are being brought back to life at and well. much the same time. Both date from the So will the legacy of Pitchford Tree House Georgian period and both are situated in ultimately be a laser scanned, 3D, all singing grounds landscaped by Humphry Repton, yet and dancing digital archive? But there is here the similarities end. Attingham Park is a another perspective. The Pitchford Tree National Trust property, whilst Longer Hall is House is a grade 1 listed building whose privately owned (the family seat of the Burton significance will favour its retention in some family since the 14th century), which form. Small buildings in parks and gardens necessitates two very different approaches to have frequently been moved and re-sited by the renovations of each. their owners without any hue and cry. The Tree House is of a size which would surely For private owners a walled garden can be as readily allow it to be cradled, lifted by a crane much a curse as a blessing: maintenance of the and transported to pastures new, even if not structures can be extremely costly, and the supported by a tree. Today most would argue huge quantities of fruit and veg that were once that context is an important factor so a grown in such gardens far exceed the more Pitchford location would be desirable; but it is modest requirements of families today. not so long ago that removal to somewhere Without the labour to maintain the garden they like Avoncroft Museum of Buildings would can soon become overgrown and derelict. have seemed like salvation. There are a variety of options, all of which Longner Hall lies to the west of the park at cost money. The important thing is surely to Attingham, divided from it by the consider and evaluate and ensure that a Atcham/Uffington road. The hall was built by common policy is agreed between the owner, John Nash in 1803 (who was working at English Heritage and Shropshire Council. In Attingham at much the same time) on the site the present economic climate no one will be of the previous manor house. Proposals for rushing to act. The future of Pitchford Tree House could easily be determined by inertia. This only strengthens the Trust’s role as an arm’s length godparent, gently campaigning for the future of this remarkable historic garden building.

Tony Herbert Chairman

Please note: Shropshire Deer Parks and their Buildings will be a theme of our Spring newsletter and we would welcome any contributions. Editor Detail from 1881 OS map showing walled garden situated to NW of outbuildings, the Hall to the South

2 landscaping the grounds are described in Repton’s Red Book, dated 1804. As shown in the 1st edition OS map of 1881, the walled garden lies close to the house and is an acre in size, roughly rectangular, enclosed by high brick walls. There is a smaller frame yard attached, where there were once glasshouses and coldframes; these have since been demolished, however the name ‘Messenger & Co’, a well known glasshouse builder of the 19th century, can be seen on the surviving winding mechanism. The garden is believed to be roughly contemporary with the house, although so far no proper historical research has been carried out.

The present owners, Robert and Gill Burton, are determined to keep their walled garden productive; but without the means to maintain it, the weeds had taken over and the shrubs and hedges planted by a previous tenant had become overgrown. In 2009 it was decided to place an advertisement in the local paper, in Tom Donnelly in the walled garden the hope that someone would come forward to take on the garden. The Burtons were on what is to be grown are taken jointly, but extremely lucky to be able to persuade one of the Burtons will always bow to Tom’s greater the applicants - Tom Donnelly, a professional experience and expertise. In 2010, with the gardener with a full time job and three help of a digger, the clearing began. Initially allotments - to tackle the garden. one half was cleared, and although Tom was not due to start until March last year, he set There is no formal tenancy, rather an about digging out the tree roots and preparing agreement for joint use of the garden, with the the plot for cultivation. Burtons providing the seeds and plants. Two lots of everything are grown, the produce to When I first visited in the middle of February, be divided equally between them; decisions the garden was a revelation, for a start one could actually see the far walls! A large rectangular plot ran the length of the garden. It had been well manured and was planted up with soft fruit – raspberries and blackcurrants. A wide border next to the south wall had crops of healthy looking cabbages and already broad beans were showing above the soil. By the time of my next visit two months later, the spring cabbages were ready for cutting and the broad beans at least a foot high. Tom was planting out sweet peas in the main plot around three tepees, and rows of beetroot, parsnips and lettuces were coming on well. Between the beds are newly sown grass paths, The main plot of Longner’s walled garden once again creating a professional and neat effect. In under cultivation in 2011 short, what had been achieved in little over a

3 year was remarkable, especially when you The walled garden at Attingham is believed to consider that the only help that Tom has is have been built around 1786; there are from his young apprentice Gary Ashworth. builder’s accounts for building garden walls in that year, and later for building a ‘hothouse’ The layout of the garden reflects the original and a vinery. This was a few years after Noel layout as shown in the 1st ed OS map. The Hill, later 1st Lord Berwick, inherited the garden is divided in two by a central path estate and started construction of the present bordered by established fruit trees. The other mansion to a design by George Steuart. The half has now been cleared, and there are plans garden lies approximately 600m to the north- to create a small working orchard at one end, west of the Hall, and is made up of two walled and to grow Malus sylvestris (crab apples) areas, the larger rectangular area being just near the entrance at the opposite end, to create an attractive feature. Work clearing the Frame Yard was already underway at the time of my first visit, and by April the new metal- frame glasshouse was in the process of being erected on the footprint of the old lean-to. The whole area will be used as a nursery, an ideal place to propagate and grow on plants for the main garden. The potting shed is once again in use and the foundations of the old coldframes will be used as propagation beds.

In the future the Burtons hope to be able to show special interest groups around the garden, but not until renovations are Detail from Repton’s Red Book for Attingham showing completed and access improved. the existing walled garden and his proposal for paths linking the garden to the pleasure grounds

under two acres, and the smaller Frame Yard about .650 of an acre. The walled garden is shown on the plan in the Repton Red book dated 1798, the 2nd Lord Berwick having engaged Humphry Repton to improve the grounds the previous year. Repton was not involved in the design of the walled garden, but he is thought to have laid out the walk from the house to the central door in the south wall, which has recently been restored and is now known as the Repton Path. New glasshouse being erected at Longner in 2011

The walled garden at Attingham has had a The National Trust’s approach to the th renovation of their walled garden differs in a chequered history: during the 20 century it number of ways. As a national charity has been a market garden, a football pitch and dedicated to the preservation of our heritage a Christmas tree nursery. Although the area at the same time allowing public access, the was ‘put to bed’ and grassed over in the Trust must juggle with a number of issues nineties, the Trust (which acquired the relating to historical accuracy, whilst property in 1947) continued to maintain the maintaining the garden as a visitor attraction. structures. Modest cultivation began in one of Furthermore it can sometimes attract support, the quarters in 2008, but it was in 2009 that be it outside funding or the help of volunteers, the full restoration programme began, with the that may not be available to a private owner. appointment of Catherine Nicholl as ‘Walled 4 Gardener’, whose energetic approach has into the smaller garden known as the frame given real impetus to the restoration project. yard: this was always the propagation area, and is still used for this purpose today. There are three glasshouses – a two bay lean-to vinery, a lean-to tomato house and a freestanding full span melon house. Originally supplied by the firm Duncan Tucker & Sons in the 1920s, they were restored by the Trust in 2007, and are now all in use. Melons and cucumbers are grown in the melon house, and tomatoes in the tomato house, which is also used for growing salads in the winter. It is hoped that vines will be grown once more in the vinery, but meanwhile it is used for growing summer crops such as tomatoes, The north-east quarter of Attingham’s walled garden aubergines and French beans. After much under cultivation in 2010 with pig shelter on the right discussion, a local grey gravel was used for Under her direction are two seasonal the paths and surfaces; historically cinders or gardeners plus a trainee from the Women’s coke ash from the boilers would have been Farm and Garden Association who comes in used in this area, but it is virtually impossible two days a week. In addition there is a small to obtain the same quality today. However this army of around fifty volunteers, which solution works well, it looks good and is roughly works out between 6-8 a day, five hardwearing – essential when dealing with days a week. large visitor numbers.

The main aims of the restoration project are: In the larger walled garden, a perimeter path • To bring a Georgian garden back to newly laid with ‘hoggin’ (a self-binding gravel life after a lengthy period of disuse traditionally used in these gardens) encloses • To produce fruit, flowers and the four quarters of the garden. In one of the vegetables for the tea room and shop eastern quarters cultivation is well underway, • To provide a beautiful and engaging a wide range of vegetable crops are grown and space for visitors to enjoy this has proved to be of great interest to Clearly public access, enjoyment and visitors. The Trust recognises that visitors like education are key factors in the Trust’s to see the garden being cultivated, and if approach to the restoration, as well as possible chat to a gardener. In addition there providing produce to the shop and the are regularly updated interpretation boards tearoom. explaining what is being grown, and of course

One entrance to the gardens is through the bothy, a small single story building built into the east wall. Traditionally the apprentice gardeners would have slept here – in the attic under the eaves, and the head gardener may have had his office downstairs. Here the Trust has created a welcoming space, in the winter months a fire crackles in the grate, and carefully chosen pieces of furniture create a period atmosphere. The adjoining room is the interpretation area, where the public can learn about the history of the garden and read of the latest developments. From here a door leads The Vinery at Attingham, rebuilt in 2007

5 there is also the opportunity to buy plants in the shop. In 2010 sales of produce raised around £5,000.

The other eastern quarter was cleared by three Gloucester Old Spot pigs last summer, much to the delight of the visitors. Cultivation will begin here this year; perennial crops such as asparagus and soft fruit are planned, whilst the rest of the area will have a rotation of annual crops. The two remaining quarters remain grassed over, and it is planned to cultivate one quarter each subsequent year. The Regency bee house with straw skeps in place

century. The foundations will be on display The walls have been wired for the fruit trees, with the appropriate interpretation, as will the the traditional training method in the 19th furnaces behind the wall, which were used to century. However the two curved corners at heat the flued or ‘hot’ walls. There were once each end of the south wall will be ‘nailed and three such hot walls at Attingham, an early, if tagged’ in order to demonstrate the 18th crude method for protecting the fruit blossom century method of attaching trees to the wall from frost, thereby ensuring an early crop. with cloth and nails. In February last year the However this practice fell out of use with the fruit trees were planted against the walls: introduction of hot water boilers around the plum trees on the east facing wall, Morello middle of the 19th century. The huge boiler at cherries on the north facing, sweet cherries on Attingham is still intact and can be seen in one the west facing and peaches and apricots on of the ‘back sheds’ situated behind the north the south facing. Iron espalier railings have wall. This monster would have provided the been constructed along one side of the central heat for all the glasshouses in the frame yard, path where pear espaliers have been planted, and offers a good example of a later heating and when the other quarters have been system. The back sheds were very much the cultivated, will continue all the way along on working part of the garden, and provided both sides. spaces for tool sheds, fruit and root vegetable

storage, etc. There is also an interesting In 2010 an exciting archaeological find, by example of a mushroom house where, for the Jeremy Milln the Trust’s archaeologist, first time in decades, a successful crop of confirmed that there was originally a Peach mushrooms was grown in 2010. More crops House against the south side of the are planned in the future. northernmost wall, dating back to the 18th

Outside the northern wall is the old orchard, where the mature trees are undergoing a much needed pruning. This is a popular area with visitors who can picnic on tables placed below the fruit trees An old gamekeeper’s hut houses the chickens which wander about freely, scratching in the long grass, doing their bit to keep pests under control. A colony of bees has been housed in the ornate Regency Bee House since spring 2010. Livestock is seen by the Trust as an important way to animate the landscape, at the same time

A crop of melons in Attingham’s recently restored emphasising the connection with food. The glasshouse 6 garden is going through organic conversion, Where families had become wealthy, perhaps due to complete next February. through ‘good marriages’, they had often invested in the 18th century building boom of It is indeed heartening to see these gardens grand new country houses. This created the being brought back to life and being used for ostentatious display which was still a key what they were originally intended – growing feature in the local landscape in 1851. Some of food. It will be fascinating to watch the these families had strong local roots, such as progress of both restoration projects over the the Clives at Styche, the Kilmoreys of coming years, and who knows, perhaps the Shavington (formerly Needhams) and the results might inspire other owners and Corbets of , who had all acquired institutions to follow their example. titled status over the years. The Adderley estate had two great houses in quick Fiona Grant succession: a house in Classical style was soon demolished and rebuilt in Victorian Gothic The walled garden at Attingham is open daily style, revealing the Corbets to be avid throughout the year. followers of fashion. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-attinghampark Other prosperous landowners, untitled but with enough resources to build a country mansion on the grand scale, included the The gentry houses of Market Mackworths and later the Tayleurs at Drayton and their landscapes in 1851 Buntingsdale Hall. They had gradually bought and consolidated extensive land holdings. A small market town it may have been, in 1851, but Drayton families followed fashion A third category of owner was the wealthy with great enthusiasm. For a rural parish of industrialist who used his fortune to create a modest extent, it contained a surprisingly rural estate idyll in the traditional English large number of grand country houses — landscape style. Typical of these was Purney often by fashionable architects — set in Sillitoe, who in the early 19th century had landscaped parkland which was created the Pell Wall estate through land professionally designed. The rural parish was acquisitions and then employed the eminent more extensive in 1851 than is our modern architect and savant Sir John Soane to build administrative district and included country him a house in the fashionable classical style. estates which are now in , such Some of these industrialists were immigrants as Oakley, Hales and Almington. The number to the county, such as John Pemberton of parklands, large and small, approached Heywood, a banker whose fortune thirty. derived from the slave trade but who came to rural Shropshire to build Cloverley Hall in A look at the maps of that time will show that neo-Tudor style. This grand mansion was many villages still retained their manor originally greater in extent than it is today. houses, or the granges which were originally run by religious orders. In most cases, On a smaller scale were the fine town houses however, the lordship of the manor was no such as The Grove, built in the 1770s by longer directly connected with the family Thomas D’Avenant. The owners in 1851 were which was living at the old manor house. A the Wilsons who had come to the area when number of the influential titled families had John Wilson acted as contractor for our moved on. By 1851 the manor house section of ’s Birmingham & Liverpool occupiers were typically local farming Junction Canal (later becoming part of the families of lesser status, although they were ). Another was The still influential in local affairs. Towers, a brand new town villa completed in

7 1851 for Joseph Loxdale Warren, a done, the Victorians enjoyed a promenade local solicitor. Their owners followed national around the boundary of their ornamental fashions both in interior design (the original gardens. Such walks often included raised house at the Grove School still has its fine viewing points from which the layout and the Adam-style reception rooms) and in garden plantings could be admired. Moreton Say design. grounds were regularly open to the public for the annual village fete, and the ‘beautiful Whether owners had a major country house or grounds of the Rectory were much admired’ a town villa, they aspired to a fine landscape according to contemporary accounts. setting to complement it in style. In the Drayton area this landscape legacy includes Another moated garden survived at Bellaport, several ornamental parklands of national built about 1520, which was later sketched by significance, as recognised by their inclusion Frances Stackhouse Acton in 1868. This in English Heritage’s ‘Register of Parks and shows the water entrance to the garden and the Gardens of Special Historic Interest in formal layout of parterre beds and grass plats ’. These are Adderley, Shavington, in front of the house. Buntingsdale, Pell Wall, (a 20th century garden), Tunstall and Oakley. A Grade 1 Registered Park is considered to be of international importance: Hawkstone Park has this highest status.

Deer parks Although there had been extensive deer parks in North Shropshire from the 12th century onwards, such as the large hunting forest between Drayton and Cheswardine, they had largely been lost to farming cultivation by 1851. The tradition did remain on a very A sketch of Bellaport, Norton-in-Hales, home of the Cotton family, by Frances Stackhouse-Acton in 1868. reduced scale: typically the small deer herds [Reproduced from Old Country Houses in Shropshire at Oakley, Hawkstone and Hodnet which by Julia Ionides & Peter Howells] were often kept for their ornamental value in the parkland. They sometimes formed part of The English Landscape Style the country house tradition of providing The English landscape movement in the later country pursuits for the family and their 18th century had produced many parklands guests, with hunting being a continuing following an idyllic pastoral vision of spacious favourite. grasslands, set with stately parkland trees, sloping down to an ornamental lake. All this Early gardens was designed to be admired from the principal Throughout the scattered rural townships the rooms of the house, and viewed from carefully heritage of the Middle Ages was still just planned carriage drive approaches. A parkland evident, notably through the surviving half- estate was often further ornamented by ‘eye- timbered manor houses. In many cases these catcher’ garden buildings, or statuary. To retained their original moats, with or without enjoy these, circuit walks led the family and water, even though now they were kept for their visitors around the garden and park. decorative rather than defensive purposes. Substantial woodland belts were usually planted inside fenced, railed or walled An example of a moated garden was Moreton boundaries, to give privacy and to keep out the Say, where remnants of the moat had been undesirable world. This ‘English Landscape incorporated into the new Vicarage Garden. Style’ was admired and copied around the Just as their Elizabethan predecessors had world, and most of our local estate landscapes

8 in 1851 still showed the strong, capable gardens and straight avenues swept away in design character of that earlier movement. favour of the fashionable ‘English Landscape Notable examples of the English landscape Style’. Advice had first been given by William style could be seen on many estates, including Emes (but was not implemented) who had a Adderley, Shavington, Buntingsdale, high reputation within the Midlands area as a Tunstall, Oakley, Almington, Hales, landscape designer. The prestige of this great Cloverley and Styche. estate was such that the most eminent landscape designer in England, Humphry At Adderley, a property of the Corbet family, Repton, was then commissioned in 1793 to a straight tree lined avenue had originally led produce one of his famous ‘Red Books’ for to very formal gardens around the Hall. Built Shavington (a design book bound in red in the mid 1700s, the house in a Georgian, leather which included ‘before and after’ classical, style with ‘many fine pieces of sketch design proposals for remodelling a Italian sculpture’ was set in a park of over 200 landscape according to the latest fashions). acres. By the early 19th century a more New stone bridges were built so that the informal, scenic approach had been scenic, curving drives which gradually created, running between two lakes: Adderley revealed the beauty of the landscape now led Mere and the later lake which was formed to to the Hall after passing over Long Pool, one the south of the house. Bagshaw’s Directory of the ornamental lakes. of 1851 described it as ‘beautified with pleasure grounds and shrubberies, and stands Although the extent to which his plans were in a well wooded park, ornamented with a followed is unclear, many key landscape fine sheet of water’. elements of Shavington in the mid 19th century showed Repton’s style. As well as the Long Pool, a larger Big Pool was the focus of park walks. In the pastoral grassland were dotted fine specimen trees, rounded spinneys and linear boundary plantations. Four lodges guarded the entrances. Bagshaw’s Guide of 1851 recorded ‘a spacious and elegant mansion of brick, surrounded with a park richly wooded & beautifully adorned with sylvan beauty, comprising upwards of fifteen hundred acres. The noble owner enlarged the park, and began to enclose the whole with a brick wall several years ago — upwards of five miles of the wall has already been built; the park is about seven miles in circumference.’

At Buntingsdale, a fine house within an The neighbouring property of Shavington was existing estate had been rebuilt in 1720 for originally a subsidiary holding within the Bulkeley Mackworth by John Prince and manor of Adderley, but the Needham family finished by Francis Smith of Warwick, a had gradually enlarged and beautified their highly reputed builder. The earlier formal estate. Becoming the Earls of Kilmorey, they gardens had been reshaped by Bulkeley had in 1685 built the grandest red brick Tudor Mackworth just before the house was house in Shropshire, with a contemporary rebuilt for him. A lake was created below the garden of formal geometric beds. By the early west end of the gardens, enhancing the view C19 however, a major period of landscape from the elevated site of the house westwards improvement had seen the old formality of towards the . He also enlarged the

9 parkland around the house. Typically, the Picturesque, however, was an emphasis on estate included productive walled kitchen ruggedness, not tranquillity, and the desire to gardens to the north of the house, a gardener’s inspire awe and perhaps a little fear in visitors. cottage and a large stable block by Francis In this objective Hawkstone definitely Smith. A later owner, William Tayleur, built a succeeded! Dr. Johnson had written about its second lake to the south — later drained to prospects, the awfulness of its shades, the form a dry pool. The pleasure grounds horrors of its precipices, the verdure of its would have been explored from a circuit hollows and the loftiness of its rocks…above walk, a route carefully designed to show off is inaccessible altitude, below is horrible the lakes, the woodland and the fine distant profundity. views. From the time that its owners, the Hills of A reminiscence by a young visitor evokes the Hawkstone, first admitted tourist visitors into spirit of this estate: Augustus Hare was to the park in the C18, this ‘sublime’ landscape become a travel writer, and his childhood of craggy rock faces, precipitous paths, scary memories (1834– 43) included visits to bridges and dark tunnels and caverns Buntingsdale, ‘a fine old brick house of the fascinated visitors. last century standing at the end of a terraced garden, with lime avenues above the Terne, near . Here Mr and Mrs Tayleur lived with their four daughters ... who were very severely brought up, though their father was immensely rich ... [M]any of my childish pleasures came from Buntingsdale and I was always glad when we turned out of the road and across some turnip- fields, which were then the odd approach to the lime avenue on the steep bank above the shining Terne, and to see the brilliant border of crocuses under the old garden wall as we Hawkstone Hall from the south-east, lithograph c. 1850 drove up to the house. Augustus Hare wrote: ‘Hawkestone was and is The Picturesque legacy one of the most enchanting places in England. Hare was also a frequent visitor to the Hill There, the commonplace hedges and fields of family of Hawkstone. Included in the Market Shropshire are broken by a ridge of high red Drayton administrative area in 1851, it was — sandstone cliffs most picturesque in form and and still is — famed as perhaps the greatest colour, and overgrown by old trees with a example of the Picturesque landscape deep valley between them, where great herds movement in England. In its original of deer feed in the shadow. On one side is a undivided form the extensive landscape park grotto, and a marvellous cavern — ‘the swept around both sides of a dramatic Druid’s Cave’ — in which I used to think a sandstone ridge which offered fine prospects live Druid, a guide dressed up in white with a over the countryside. The tall monument to wreath, appearing through the yellow light, Sir Rowland Hill which stands on the ridge most bewildering and mysterious. On the other could be seen from a long distance. side of the valley rise some castellated ruins called ‘The Red ’. ... Over one of the This landscape style emerged in the later 18th deep ravines which ran through the cliff near century, soon after the English Landscape the Red Castle was ‘the Swiss Bridge’ — movement had also replaced the earlier Aunt Kitty painted it in oils. Beneath it, in a fashion of formal gardens with naturalistic conical summer-house — ‘the Temple of landscapes. The key feature of the Health’ — an old woman used to sit and sell

10 packets of ginger-bread — ‘Drayton ginger- It is no wonder that Hawkstone was one of the bread’ — of which I have often bought a principal landscape attractions in England, a packet since for association’s sake’. nationally renowned ‘sublime’ garden intended to inspire thoughts of eternity . In 1851 the park would have been seen at its peak, and the Hills were still enlarging it, Nineteenth century villa landscapes converting fields behind the mansion and its From the early part of the 19th century, the immediate pleasure grounds into further growing prosperity of middle class parkland. The approach from Marchamley professional and business men enabled them followed the Terrace Walk which Sir to built new houses in spacious grounds. Their Rowland Hill (1800–75) had extended. By the substantial villas on the edge of town were 1840s it stretched for three quarters of a mile often set in a scaled-down version of a country along the high ridge, giving outstanding long park: their houses, overlooking a rural views and crossing two gorges via wrought prospect, were set above mown lawns planted iron bridges. New plant introductions from with fine specimen trees. The grounds often around the world now ornamented the included a lake or pool, as at Peatswood, Old pleasure gardens and the Terrace Walk, Springs and The Grove, and perhaps a including the newly fashionable exotic traditional ha-ha boundary to the pleasure conifers. These helped to restore the tree grounds. Pell Wall, just outside the town, cover which had been depleted by some 1,100 included all these landscape elements within trees which were lost in severe gales in 1839 an undulating landscape which was screened and a hurricane in 1850. from public roads by a traditionally wooded perimeter, as in larger country estates. The Although some of the 18th century elements newer elements of these landscapes would, by of the landscape had vanished, such as the 1851, have reflected the blossoming of floral once-fashionable Chinese temple and Turkish interest in Victorian gardens, the importing of tent, and an automaton had replaced the ‘live exotic conifers, and the sporting pursuits hermit’ in his cave, new elements had suited to smaller gardens, such as croquet replaced them in the first half of the 19th lawns. Flowers rioted in formal beds near the century. Boating had become the rage, and house and in heated conservatories, while short break visitors often enjoyed sailing as tender fruits such as peaches and vines were part of a two or three day stay at the enlarged raised in heated glasshouses. Early Inn (now the Hawkstone Park Hotel). Various photographs and postcards illustrate these tableaux formed points of interest on the town garden fashions. walking tour which began at the Inn, such as ‘the scene at Otaheite’, reflecting contemp- orary interest in South Sea discoveries. Hothouses and menageries could be visited, and in the 1850s the eland, or South African antelope, were introduced to the park. However the continuing highlights of the visit were still the contrasting experiences: the narrow clefts and the dark tunnels suddenly Pell Wall: entrance front, 1821 [Fo.vi.4, reproduced opening out onto cliff top viewpoints above with permission from the Sir John Soane Museum] precipitous drops. In 1834 the visitor Edward Sidney had described the network of truly Pell Wall was completed in 1828 for Purney awesome grotto caverns as ‘incrusted with Sillitoe. The family’s wealth was based on shells and minerals, sparkling in a thousand trading in London as iron merchants, but his hues, shed on them through coloured lights grandfather, mother and wife all came from placed in the fissures of the rock above.’ Market Drayton. Having built up an estate south of the town, he employed Sir John

11 Soane to design a country villa (to be his last), times and many pattern books were published a coach house and several lodges, including encouraging owners to build rustic arbours, the ornate triangular gate lodge. The brick benches, fencing and trelliswork. The planting walled kitchen gardens were built in 1822-8 was typical of the time: it included and included glasshouses, a gardener’s house, Wellingtonias and other exotic conifers and the usual range of sheds and bothies for which were being introduced by plant hunters, garden staff. as were the newly fashionable azaleas and rhododendrons. Examples of these were By 1845 the Pell Wall estate extended to 452 commonly found in villa gardens, just as in acres, and Sillitoe had extended his larger parklands. ornamental planting as far as the river Tern and also Salisbury Hill. After the house was Grove House was another property where the completed Sillitoe wrote to Soane, who had lifestyle resembled that described in the larger become a friend, that ‘the foliage of the place estates. In 1851 the Wilson family employed a was now in very high order’. large number of servants to manage their mansion and its spacious grounds, seven of them ‘living in’ the main house, five with their families in Grove Cottages, in the grounds, while others came from the town. An undated photograph shows household staff posed against the background of a ferny dell: a passion for ferns and rockwork being another Victorian garden obsession. Another shows family members by a grotto, some younger members being perched on its walls and roof.

Rustic bridge, Pell Wall ( sketch from old photograph)

By 1851 four new approaches had been made, three having lodges. The north-east forecourt included a carriage sweep around a central circular bed: a typical feature of Victorian villas. The old field name ‘Pell Wall’ is believed to have meant ‘a spring in the hollow’. The focus of the pleasure grounds was indeed a series of improved ponds lying in a dingle which drained to the river Tern. A sandstone viewing platform (and possibly a lost garden house) was built from which the The Grove House, from across the ha-ha scenic prospect over the Dingle could be admired. Its woods and ornamental A ‘Plan of the Grove Premises at Market shrubberies could also be enjoyed from a Drayton’ dated 1850 shows the line of the ha- network of pathways, while still remaining is ha bounding the garden, perimeter planting, a a rustic summerhouse — certainly docu- lake in a wooded hollow and a treed walk to mented in 1860 — made of cedar boards the walled kitchen garden (to the north of the with a heather thatched cladding. It had both main road). The form of this walk resembles internal and external seating, and a black and the little ‘wilderness gardens’ of the 18th white pebble path ran around the outside. century: not really wild, but with geometric paths running through tree planting. This small An ice house and a thatched boathouse had example illustrates how the fashions in also been recorded. This rustic style of gardening, as in architecture, were coming full construction was very popular in Victorian 12 circle, with a revived interest in the The AGT provides much professional support irregularity of the English Gothick and a to the County Trusts, as well as vital links vogue for the re-creation of gardens from with other organizations, training for ourselves earlier historic periods. and regular newsletters. It is hoped, therefore, that members will feel this increase justified. Town plots Even where dwellings were clustered at high At this meeting there was also a short density in the centre of town, the desire for a presentation on the progress of the discussions patch of green space for relaxation was so taking place between the AGT, CGTs, the strong that detached pleasure gardens were a Garden History Society (GHS) and the Garden feature of Market Drayton, as of other towns. Museum (GM). These relate to the options for Although laid out in strip plots, as are today’s closer collaboration, in particular on vegetable garden allotments, the original conservation and planning issues, which character of these gardens was far more hitherto have been the concern of the GHS. decorative. Families often built little With the withdrawal of their funding by summerhouses: places for tea and quiet English Heritage, the GHS are looking for the relaxation, from which they surveyed their assistance of the County Garden Trusts in the flower-filled green sanctuaries. Even today monitoring of planning applications and in occasional narrow footpaths survive from the some case making the formal responses. The days when they were used as wheelbarrow outcome of these discussions will be made paths to these gardens, although the pleasure clear at this year’s AGM, but in the meantime garden strips themselves have gone. the GHS are already offering training sessions.

Kunigunda Gough AGT Conferences in 2010 and 2011: The above article is a shortened extract from Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire ‘Market Drayton in 1851’, a recent U3A Local History group project for which members each contributed a chapter on a The annual conference of the Association of different topic. The collated research was Garden Trusts takes place each year in a intended to present a picture of the town’s different county, usually at the end of the social life and institutions in that year, summer. The programme is selected and assisted by census statistics. organised by the local Trust, in close collaboration with AGT representatives. This It is reassuring that almost all of the provides a wonderful opportunity to visit landscapes described have largely survived as outstanding gardens, some not generally open private gardens or parkland, even where the to visitors, with local experts as guides and in mansions or garden buildings have been lost. the company of fellow enthusiasts. All county This at least keeps open the option of future Garden Trust members are welcome to attend, restoration by interested owners. even if only for part of the programme. The following accounts of the last two conferences illustrate the variety of gardens on offer, and Association of Garden Trusts the privileged nature of the visits, often accompanied by the generous hospitality of the owners. At the AGM of the Association of Gardens Trusts, held in Oxford in September, it was The Isle of Wight proposed that the Affiliation Fee received The theme “Oh, we do like to be beside the from County Gardens Trusts be increased by seaside!” was chosen for the 2010 conference. 50p per member. The AGT will not be able Although well-known for Osborne House, the to ask for a further increase in the holiday retreat created by Queen Victoria and contribution from the CGTs for three years. Prince Albert, the other gardens offered many

13 surprises and great variety. The group was colour in summer, with year round interest in based in Shanklin, a Victorian seaside resort the sculptural structures in the cacti beds, on the south-east coast of the island. It is whilst cleverly devised wind breaks and famous for the Shanklin Chine, a deep narrow shelter belts protect the existing microclimate. ravine formed by water cutting through soft It is to be hoped that current budget cuts will sandstone leading to the sea. It is remarkably not threaten this wonderful tourist attraction picturesque with a waterfall, stream and a for the island. drop of 105 ft to sea level. Its particular flora and fauna includes Gunnera manicata and The next garden visited, Northcourt, was the many rare plants and ferns. It has been an private garden of John Harrison, Chairman of inspiration to poets (John Keats), authors the Isle of Wight Gardens Trust. Surrounding (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens) and painters a beautiful 17th century stone manor house (Thomas Rowlandson, Samuel Howitt). The (which is available for B&B), the gardens Chine was essential viewing for every have terraced walks and a stream leading to a Victorian traveller and contemporary pool and woodland gardens, a walled kitchen descriptions referred to it as ‘terrifically garden, a castellated wall, a small sunken sublime’ and ‘savagely grand’! garden and an orchard planted in the 20th century. Many surviving features date from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the garden is registered Grade 2.

Exotics at Ventnor Botanic Garden Northcourt House

Ventnor Botanic Garden was next, for some Osborne House (English Heritage Grade 2*) is the highlight of the weekend. The site of this an Italianate house surrounded by formal garden was formerly a Victorian cottage terraces, pleasure grounds and a park. hospital for tuberculosis sufferers. Its paths, Designed by Prince Albert as a family holiday lawns and stone terraces and retaining walls home, it was used extensively between 1845 were laid out and worked by patients, and Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, providing therapeutic manual labour. The whereupon it was handed to the nation. The hospital was demolished in 1969 and the group was guided round by the Head garden was acquired by the Isle of Wight Gardener, and took refuge from the weather in County Council for public use. The the handsome glasshouses of the walled 18th devastation caused by the hurricane of 1987 century kitchen garden. These have been provided the Curator, Simon Goodenough, interestingly restored to “contemporary with an opportunity to redesign the site with a heritage” design. The terraces in front of the series of exotic gardens displaying house are colourfully planted in a purple and Mediterranean, South African, Australian and yellow bedding scheme. Statues, urns, New Zealand plants. It is now a riot of fountains, pools and pergolas add height and

14 form to this impressive spectacle. The lawns Oxfordshire beyond, which slope down to the sea, are With the theme ‘Power Gardening’, the 2012 divided by the Broad Walk along which are conference programme centred on landscapes set formal lines of topiary in pots. A large created by Dukes and Generals in early 18th number of mid 19th century trees survive from century Oxfordshire, providing a magnificent plantings directed by Prince Albert, whilst the contrast to the previous year. Based at pleasure grounds to the west of the house Worcester College in the heart of Oxford, the contain many specimen trees planted by weekend started with a guided tour of the members of the Royal Family. extensive College gardens, led by the Head Gardener, Simon Bagnall. Luxuriantly planted borders flanking the main lawns were a memorable feature, along with the surprising extent of water beyond. The introductory lecture ‘Military Gardening – The Duke of Marlborough and his Generals’ by Richard Wheeler, Chairman of the Garden History Society’s Conservation Committee, set the tone for the weekend’s visits, emphasising the symbolism to be found in the landscaping, monuments and sculpture.

The Broad Walk at Osborne House

The final visit was to Woodlands Vale, a splendid Victorian house near Ryde, like Osborne enjoying an idyllic setting with views to the sea. The garden dates from the 1870s and 1880s, with a Japanese garden added after 1896. The site is listed in the Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan as a site of ‘local importance’.

The garden consists of a series of gravel and William Kent’s garden gate on the main road for lawn terraces taking advantage of the sea members of the public visiting Rousham view and culminating in a semi-circular lawn with a central path leading to three formal At Rousham the guide, Sarah Rutherford, read pools. The terraces are linked by stone steps extracts from a letter of 1760 addressed to the and nearby is a popular Victorian feature, the absent Cottrell-Dormer family, written by pets’ cemetery. The central terrace has a their gardener Clary. Seeking to persuade pergola terminating in three flights of steps them to return, he describes in detail a walk decorated with Japanese lanterns and leading through the garden designed by William Kent to a wooden Japanese arch. for General Dormer, who had been wounded at the Battle of Blenheim. This route, The courtyard entrance area is enclosed by an remarkably, is still entirely recognisable to this arcaded wall of banded brick arches and day and this group followed his directions past terracotta finials, giving an Italianate feel on the Dying Gladiator on the top terrace to the arrival. This spectacular visit closed with a Gothic Lodge with Kent’s original seat, and delicious tea, symbolic of the warm welcome down to the Temple of Echo, enjoying the provided by the owners and a good ending for views outward to a distant eyecatcher. the conference. Returning along the River Cherwell, with

15 Kent’s Praeneste arcade and the Pyramid, the Shotover was the alternative visit on offer, its tour ended in the walled garden, still lushly gardens described as a ‘rare survival of early productive in both vegetables and flowers. landscaping in the irregular but still formal style’. Built by John Tyrrell in the early The guide for the afternoon tour of Blenheim 1700’s, the house overlooks a long Canal to was Jeri Bapasola, researcher and author of the east, with a Gothic Temple at the far end, a recently published account of Blenheim’s an early example of gothic revival. The remarkable landscape history*. An afternoon grounds were further enhanced by General could only offer a taster, so she chose a route Tyrrell, a friend of General Dormer, who – to the south in the smaller scale Lower Park possibly on the latter’s recommendation – also starting from the main elevation of the palace. employed William Kent in the 1730’s. His The site of Bridgeman’s Great Parterre work lies to the west, with an octagonal Garden of 1709, this is now a broad sweep of temple and an obelisk commemorating a visit open lawn flanked by the 5th Duke’s by Queen Elizabeth I. arboretum and some oaks of great antiquity, with the vast walled kitchen garden beyond. To accompany this weekend, members were On the opposite side of the lawn flows the provided with a handsome ‘delegate pack’ River Glyme, where Capability Brown’s comprising introductory notes, historical Grand Cascade has recently undergone major illustrations and maps. Oxfordshire Gardens re-engineering to comply with the Reservoirs Trust have provided a high standard to be Act, requiring the removal of surrounding matched at the next conference, already being shrubbery and trees, and consequently looked planned by Avon Gardens Trust and which bleak and unimpressive – let us hope only a will take place in Bath in early September, temporary state. fittingly titled ‘The Polite Society’.

Gaye Smith and Belinda Cousens

* The Finest View in England: the Landscape and Gardens at Blenheim Palace, by Jeri Bapasola, 2009

CAMPAIGN FOR SAYES COURT, JOHN EVELYN’S GARDEN

Sayes Court, John Evelyn’s famous garden, lay on the south bank of the Thames at The British lion clasping a French cockerel, just one Deptford, alongside the Royal Dockyard. It clue to the political inspiration behind much of Blenheim’s design and iconography fell into disrepair after Evelyn’s death in 1706 and only a small section survives in a public On the Sunday there was a choice between park. The major part now forms part of the Heythrop, built for the lst Duke of old dockyard, and lies under a concrete apron Shrewsbury by Thomas Archer in 1704. in the area called Convoys Wharf. This area is Restored in the late 19th century after a major now set for redevelopment, and concern is fire, the house has now become a hotel. The being expressed that this may represent the very grand North Avenue which extended last opportunity to preserve a significant part almost 2 miles and passes the village of of the garden with a view to a future Heythrop is currently being restored, with restoration project. several rows of trees and the clumps which are said to have been used here for the first John Evelyn’s reputation now rests largely on time in England. his famous diaries and his books, in particular 16 ‘Sylva, a Discourse of Forest Trees’ to be hoped that they may again be persuaded (published in 1664). During his lifetime, to support the protection of this historic site. however, his garden and park – which then extended over 62 acres – attracted visitors More information about this campaign can be from far and wide. Charles II visited as did found on www.sayescourtgarden.com and on Samuel Pepys and Christopher Wren. Peter the Garden History Society’s website: the Great of Russia was briefly a tenant of www.gardenhistorysociety.org Sayes Court, provoking the ire of its owner by damaging some of his hollies. PLANNING ISSUE: The garden laid out by Evelyn from 1653 is Luciefelde House, Shrewsbury recorded in detail in a plan now held by the British Library (which can be viewed in the Our Chairman wrote in our previous online Gallery section of its website). It newsletter of the problem of ‘garden grabbing’ included an oval garden, a terrace walk or by some developers and private owners. By mount, an orchard and a grove of over 500 seeking to build on gardens in residential trees, including exotic specimens, as well as a suburbs, they risked diminishing the quality of substantial kitchen garden. the wider environment as well as the loss of

important trees. Plans and detailed written descriptions all survive to make a restoration possible. The Such a case arose recently in Shrewsbury, initial proposal put forward by campaigners is with an application for development in the that this area could be reserved as a public garden of Luciefelde House, which also park, for the benefit of the occupants of the required the felling of an important mature proposed new housing, with the possibility of beech tree (the subject of a TPO). The SPGT partial restoration at a later date. The wrote supporting the Tree Officer’s opposition magnificent restoration of Trentham Gardens, to this proposal. Shropshire Council refused alongside commercial and housing the application, and Luciefelde House has now development, suggests that such a scheme can found a new owner. be made viable, given goodwill, commitment and the time for the lengthy negotiations The property is significant as the home of which inevitably precede such a project. William Allport Leighton, an important

botanist who lived at Luciefelde House for Interestingly, Sayes Court has already been nearly 50 years, dying there in 1889. He went ‘saved’ once before, as a result of a campaign to school with Charles Darwin and both men in the 1880’s, in which Octavia Hill was took an increasing interest in botany whilst involved (later founder of the National Trust). students at Cambridge. In 1841 Leighton The campaign was successful and the area published the first ‘Flora of Shropshire’. He was adopted as a public park, but after World went on to develop an international War I the park was absorbed into the specialisation in lichens. This resulted in the expanding dockyard. The house was publication of his ‘Lichen Flora of Great damaged during World War II and Britain’ in 1871. He was elected a Fellow of subsequently demolished. the Linnean Society in 1865. Five species of

lichens and funghi are named after Leighton. In 2000, Sayes Court was again the subject of His herbarium is at Kew, but there are also detailed study, this time by Professor Burdett numerous specimens of vascular plants from it who produced a report for Lewisham Council in Shrewsbury Museum. making proposals for the retention of this area as a park, along similar lines to what is A fuller account of W. A. Leighton’s life can proposed now. At that time, the proposals be found in the Oxford Dictionary of National were accepted by Lewisham Council and it is Biography.

17 THE SEVERN TREE TRUST GOES of the Prince of Wales at Highgrove House FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH and the arboretum at Bryan's Ground near Presteigne. Having now completed its second year of existence, the Severn Tree Trust has grown in New members are always welcome whatever membership, planted hundreds of trees in their interest in trees and those interested Shropshire and continues to successfully run should contact Severn Tree Trust's its annual programmes of talks and visits. membership secretary, Hilary Boardman, on 01743 232768. Among the speakers have been Shropshire Council Tree Officer, John Blessington, on "The Work of a Tree Officer", Dr. Graham BOOK & CD NEWS Piearce, retired tree pathologist in Zimbabwe, on the African trees associated with Dr. Brenda Colvin – A Career in Landscape, by Livingstone, Dr. Andrew Gordon on growing Trish Gibson, published by Frances Lincoln Nothofagus trees (the Southern Beech) in £35 Britain and retired Shropshire Wildlife Trust naturalist, John Tucker, on "Tales Trees can Brenda Colvin (1897-1981) ranks with Sylvia Tell". Last year's programme was completed Crowe and Geoffrey Jellicoe as a pioneer of by a November talk on "The Story of The twentieth-century landscape design in Britain. Apple" by Tom Froggatt and this month This first full account of her life and work George Powell talking about "Tree Legends demonstrates her importance. and the Green Man". All talks are held in The Shirehall, Shrewsbury. Early in her career Colvin visited the USA to see the new civic landscaping projects, The spring and summer elements of the especially the parkways. In England she programme are visits to arboreta or gardens transformed the landscapes of power stations, with significant trees. Since the group started, reservoirs, industrial sites, new towns and visits have included Richard Mayall's national national parks and worked on private gardens. collection of Birches in Ryton XI Towns, Her simple planting style and her ecological Peter Aspin's Agroforestry Farm near , approach had enormous influence. Colvin the Quinta Arboretum in , Burford championed the profession of landscape House Gardens near Tenbury Wells and architect as a founder member and president of Batsford Arboretum in the Cotswolds. the Landscape Institute. Her books ‘Land and Landscape’ and ‘Trees for Town and Country’ All months include some kind of activity remain standard works. Hal Moggridge, who with, in addition during the winter months, became her partner; has written the foreword the group's tree planting sessions. Among the to this book. Severn Tree Trust's plantings have been the following: Orchard trees and a hedge have A number of Shropshire gardens figure among been planted for Severndale School in her private commissions. Burwarton, Shrewsbury, trees have been planted along the Dudmaston and Attingham are mentioned, but River to shade a habitat for freshwater only briefly and there is clearly the molluscs and a holly hedge has been planted opportunity for more research on her projects in . in this county.

The above activities have only been a part of Trish Gibson is a garden journalist and a those in which the Severn Tree Trust has been member of the Cornwall Gardens Trust. She involved and, as the group goes into its third has had full access to the archives of Colvin & year from November, visits for 2012 are Moggridge and reproduces many of Colvin’s being planned hopefully to include the trees plans and photographs. She also draws on

18 Colvin's personal notebook and other Gertrude Jekyll, already a successful previously unpublished material. The Colvin plantswoman, interior designer, painter, & Moggridge partnership continues, and is silversmith and embroiderer in her own right, still based at Little Peacocks, Filkins, met the young Edwin Lutyens, who had just Gloucestershire, where Colvin's garden is left the office of architect Ernest George after kept as it was in her day. one year to start his own practice. He was all of 19 years old. Miss Jekyll, twenty-five years his senior, not only commissioned her own Wild Flowers by Sarah Raven, published by house from him but introduced him to clients. Bloomsbury, £50 She was to become his mentor, his design partner and his lifelong friend. ‘Bumps’ was Inspired by childhood excursions with her his special name for her. Even when Lutyens botanist father, this book reveals Sarah spread his wings as an architect, designing all Raven’s deep knowledge as well as her over the world, he still commissioned planting enthusiasm for this subject. She has travelled plans from her, including those for the War the British Isles to track down the 500 wild Graves after World War I. flowers listed here, and the descriptions convey her personal response to each one. The action of the play is set between the years This lavishly illustrated book is divided by 1889 and 1917. Annette Badland takes the habitat, identified as woods, downs and dales, part of Bumps, the role she created in the lanes and hedgerows, meadows, coast, London theatre production. Graham Seed, marshes and streams, moors and mountains, better known to The Archers listeners as the and wasteland. ill-fated Nigel, takes the role of Lutyens.

The author introduces a wide range of plants, To order a copy of this delightful production, telling you their names and something about send a cheque for £14.99 (which includes them - how to identify the families, how postage), payable to Bella D’Arcy Reed, at 11 they're brilliantly adapted to their Sawyers Road, Little Totham, Maldon, CM9 environment, their importance to animals and 8JW, with your name, address and telephone insects, what herbal remedies they can be number or email. Profits will go to garden used for, the story behind their common events for disabled people as part of the names and the part they play in local history. Chelsea Fringe. More information on www.gardensandpeople.co.uk There are beautiful landscape photographs by Jonathan Buckley throughout, and one of his plant portraits accompanies each of Sarah's PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE! authoritative species descriptions. The website for the Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust is being re-designed under the ‘BUMPS’ – an audio/CD guidance of new committee member Michael Tunnicliffe. The interest and attractiveness of the new site will depend in some measure on A chance meeting at a tea party in Surrey in the quality and variety of photographs 1889 led to one of the most affectionate, long- illustrating the various pages. If you have lasting , extraordinary garden partnerships of photographs of Shropshire gardens which you the 20th century. The play entitled ‘Bumps’ are happy to share with us and with the wider was written by Sheila Dewey and inspired by public, we would be very grateful to hear from the lifelong friendship between Getrude Jekyll you. In the first instance, please email brief and Edwin Lutyens. It has now been re- details to Mary King at written for audio/CD from the original script. [email protected].

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS Shropshire Parks & Gardens Trust for Members and their Guests COMMITTEE

All lectures are held at the Shirehall in Abbey President: AEH Heber-Percy LL Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND and commence at 7.30pm, with the exception of Chairman: Antony Herbert 15th March, when the AGM will be held beforehand at 6.30pm. Guests and visitors Secretary: Mary King are very welcome – tickets £5. 64 Falcons Way Shrewsbury Thursday, 19th January SY3 8ZG Plant Hunters 01743 271824 Speaker: Lee Hale, Curator, Winterbourne [email protected] House and Garden, University of Birmingham

Treasurer: Dermot Rooney Thursday, 16th February

The Casebook of a Landscape Detective Events Secretary: Kathy Herbert Speaker: Keith Pybus, Shropshire author and 01743 236127 landscape detective

Membership Daphne Capps Thursday, 15th March Secretary: 01743 354540 Annual General Meeting at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments & lecture at 7.30pm Newsletter Editor: Belinda Cousens Gardening Leave 01743 718237 Speaker: Anna Barker Cresswell, Founder of [email protected] the charity ‘Gardening Leave’, set up in 2007 to provide life-restoring horticultural therapy Members: Christopher Gallagher to traumatised servicemen and women. Alan Gough

Fiona Grant OTHER EVENTS Yvonne Holyoak Advolly Richmond STUDY DAY Michael Tunnicliffe Organised by Welsh Historic Gardens Trust Saturday, 28th April Website: www.shropshiregardens.org.uk ‘Canopied with Bowers’ – Pergolas, Arbours and Arches, from Ancient times to the Present Charity Reg. No. 1089258 £40 inc. coffee, lunch and tea 10am Registration & coffee The Trust is a member of the Association of 10.30 Lectures start Garden Trusts: www.garden-trusts.org.uk at Bodnant Welsh Food Centre, Furnace Farm, Conwy Valley Please note that the opinions expressed in this Speakers: newsletter are those of the contributors, and Linda Farrar, Dr. Jan Woudstra, Phd., do not necessarily represent the views of the Troy Smith. Programme includes tour of the Shropshire Parks & Gardens Trust or the garden, which looks stunning in spring. Editor Details & booking form: www.whgt.org.uk More info: tel. Joy Neal 01654 781203

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