YORKSHIRE GARDENS TRUST NEWSLETTER Issue 26 New Series 9 Winter 2010 Inside this issue: Funding Appeal for Parcevall Hall Gardens Special Project Since the YGT visit to Par- Like the early days at was undertaken by Par- Chairman’s Letter 2 cevall Hall in 2006 further Harlow Carr, projects at cevall's gardeners and restoration projects have Parcevall are still com- was finally completed in Mulgrave 4 been completed. The pleted on a shoestring 2008. However reinstat- walled up entrance to the ing the lake and waterfall house terrace from the Ca- was beyond even their Ampleforth 7 mellia Walk has been re- amazing skills. As funding opened and the two flights was difficult to find, the Farrer Study Day 7 of stone steps to this top decision was taken to terrace rebuilt in spring last restore the lake but not Sleightholmedale Lodge 10 year. Recently discovered the waterfall. architectural drawings en- sured that this reconstruc- Parcevall Hall Gardens Knaresborough 10 tion was historically accu- Waterfall Project aims to rate. Last August the complete this restoration. New YGT Publication 12 house terrace looked ex- The project is to build a ceptionally beautiful with new waterfall in front of an arch of Eucryphia gluti- the existing structure us- Midsummer Picnic 13 nosa in full flower framing ing local weathered the top of the new steps. Current Cascade stone, together with a Yorkshire’s Parklands 14 Sir William's classic cross- new naturalistic pool at axial feature, so typical of budget. A great depth of the bottom of the fall. It Edwardian Gardens and so rubble was dug out en- will mask the current Cowesby Hall 15 important to the overall tirely by hand by the Par- "brutal" and "austere" design of the terraces can cevall gardeners last utilitarian structure, and YGT Website 17 be enjoyed again after hav- year for the steps project. recreate a waterfall simi- ing been lost for over thirty lar to the original. The years. Tarn Ghyll Wood, near design has been ap- Borthwick 17 the entrance to the gar- proved by the regional The restoration programme dens, suffered total ne- landscape architect at Council Away Day 18 for the gardens was started glect after the death of English Heritage, Andrew over twenty-five years ago Sir William in 1960 and Wimble, and also by the Robin Compton 18 and most of the projects quickly became impene- landscape conservation have been undertaken by trable. The lake started to officer, Janet Swailes, for the gardening staff at Par- leak and the waterfall the Yorkshire Dales Na- Committee round-up 19 cevall without any external below was destroyed. tional Park. The total cost funding, apart from small The huge task of clearing of the project is £13,825. Small Grants Scheme 23 grants from "The Friends of the wood and re- Parcevall Hall Gardens". establishing the footpaths (Continued on page 2) Helen Lazenby 1948 - 2010 With the death of Helen Lazenby on Monday, 22nd February, the Yorkshire Gardens Trust has lost one of its most loyal and ardent supporters as well as a true friend. Helen was a founder member of the Trust who played a huge part in setting it up. Her talents as a writer and researcher cannot be overstated. She was also responsible for orga- nizing some of the Trusts most memorable occasions and this she did with meticulous detail and planning. But above all Helen was a lovely person who radiated enthusiasm. Her passion for gardens and historic landscapes has been richly woven into the fabric of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust and this will be her legacy. She loved life, and lived it to the full. She attended almost all our events and it was always a pleasure to be in her company. I can see her now at the Summer Picnic enjoying a glass of wine and being with friends of like-minded interests. It is hard and extremely sad to imagine these occasions without her. Our thoughts are with her family. PAGE 2 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 26 Funding Appeal for Parcevall Hall Gardens Special Project cont. (Continued from page 1) death this year. place by June in order to draw Sir William played a leading role in down promised grant. If you could the horticultural world in the North of The YGT considers that the recrea- help us achieve this target we could England, becoming the chairman of tion of this waterfall is so important for add the final piece to Sir William's the Yorkshire Branch of the newly the overall enjoyment of the gardens most beautiful Arts & Crafts garden. formed Northern Horticultural Soci- at Parcevall Hall and we have been ety of 1946 and the second Director active in attending meetings, offering To make a donation please com- of Harlow Carr Gardens for the advice, donating monies and spear- plete the enclosed form or contact years 1955-60. Completion of this heading the fund-raising. We are now Anne Tupholme on 01274 563216 restoration project would be a fitting getting near the target but still have to for further information. tribute to its remarkable creator to raise £3,000. This needs to be in Anne Tupholme mark the 50th anniversary of his Chairman’s Letter As we emerge from a winter that RMS leaves England just twice a cally endangered. Green Mountain is many of us will remember as one of year from Portland and spends the a man-made phenomenon and looks the severest in our lifetimes, I am rest of the time in the South Atlantic incongruous set amongst the basalt sure, like me, you are longing to get offering a ferry service between peaks and clinker-strewn plains of into the garden and prepare for Cape Town, Ascension and Na- such a barren Island. spring. With the snow almost gone, mibia. Islanders or ‘Saints’ as they gardeners will be assessing the are called, who have serious health Amazingly this verdant environment damage caused to shrubs and trees problems may have to wait for up to was caused by one of Britain’s most that have snapped under the weight six weeks for the ship to return to influential botanists, Sir Joseph Dal- of heavy snow or perished from ex- take them the six day journey to ton Hooker (1817-1911). His brief visit treme low temperatures. Recent hospital in Cape Town. to the Island was to have a profound advice to both farmers and garden- impact on it. Hooker was concerned ers to grow more Mediterranean After twelve glorious days at sea our for the British garrison stationed on type plants has proved that nature is ship dropped anchor off Ascension, the Mountain so he proposed the unpredictable. Understanding a the remote volcanic Island where planting of trees and shrubs on its plant’s behaviour in alien countries the Americans have their air base. steep inclines in the hope of increas- is something we have not always Those of us who wanted to explore ing rainfall. A gardener was appointed got right and this I saw first hand the Island were taken ashore in little and plants from South America and during a visit to Saint Helena and boats. In 1775 James Cook had South Africa were brought in abun- indeed Ascension Island last Octo- sailed into Georgetown Bay in the dance to create a pleasing lushness. ber. Resolution to collect turtle meat and In 1847 seven hundred packets of you can still see the original holding seeds arrived from Kew and today Our epic sea journey on the RMS ponds today: thankfully the turtles Green Mountain is home to exotic Saint Helena, which included 8 days are now a protected species. The plants from all over the world much to on the Island, took four weeks and ships purser had arranged for me to the chagrin of conservationists like ended at Cape Town. This was a meet the Island’s resident botanist Stedson and Matti who mourn the story in itself travelling with Island- Stedson Stroud, a big hearted man mountains natural habitat. ers returning from England to be who is dedicated to preserving the with their families at Christmas Islands six remaining endemic We took on board some new passen- along with heavy cargo which in- plants. I was fortunate to see all of gers at Ascension including a pris- cluded a fire engine, a present from them including Stedson’s favourite, oner accompanied by a senior police Devon County Council! With over the pretty and neat Euphorbia ori- officer which, as you can imagine, sixty crew and under a hundred ganoides. I also met the newly ar- caused a frisson of excitement on passengers we were well looked rived Kew botanist, Matti Niissalo, a board! As dawn broke two days later after. You may find it hard to believe young Dutch man, who was working we first set eyes on the massive vol- but the Royal Mail Ship is the only in the shade houses on Green canic peaks of St. Helena. It was a way you can get to St Helena; there Mountain. He is specializes in the spectacular sight and I thought of is no airport and plans to have one Island’s four endemic ferns of which Charles Darwin, Captain Cook and built have been put on hold. The Pteris adscensionis is the most criti- (Continued on page 3) Directory of Craftsmen and Conservation Specialists With this Newsletter each member will receive the 2009 Directory of Craftsmen and Conservation Specialists thanks to the York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship of which we are now members.