The online forum for the Walled Kitchen Gardens Network with all the latest news, events and musings.
SEPT/OCT 2016 MUSINGS
SEPT/OCT 2016 MUSINGS by Maz Gardening Volunteer at Tatton Park Walled Kitchen Garden, Knutsford, Cheshire The first Tuesday in September saw the GB Tour of Britain Cycle Race visit Tatton Park twice. As the roads in the area would be closed when the volunteer team wished to ingress and egress the Park, they reluctantly decided not to turn up for work that day. The Garden Shop experienced a sinking feeling when the floor sank into an old inspection pit used in the past by car mechanics to service Lord Egerton’s vehicles. Fortunately the Joinery Team soon fixed the problem and the Garden Shop was open again quickly for visitors… Read more »
Michael Wickenden : 1955-2016
One of the highlights of this year’s Forum in Scotland was the visit to Cally Gardens. We just missed Michael who was plant hunting in Myanmar. This from the Callygardens website; www.callygardens.co.uk It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens, Scotland. Michael died on the 11th October 2016, whilst trekking in northern Myanmar (Burma). He was 61. A great gardener, plantsman, explorer, photographer, teacher and friend; an inspiration to so many. He will be hugely missed. A funeral will be held close to his family in Sussex. A celebration of his life will be held in Scotland at a later date…. Read more »
Vacancy for Head Gardener for National Trust gardens and landscapes in Surrey.
As the Head Gardener for Surrey Landscapes you’ll be leading a team of gardeners and volunteers to manage a portfolio of diverse landscapes and gardens. This is a new role within the portfolio, so it’s a great opportunity for you to make it your own. The portfolio includes Claremont, a landscape garden famed for its place in history as a Royal palace. Winkworth Arboretum, an internationally renowned garden with unique plants, and large visitor numbers each year, as well as Oak Hurst Cottage, a 16th century home providing a glimpse into the past and Holmwood Common, an ancient common once owned by King Harold and William the Conqueror. Based at… Read more »
Hesleyside Hall. Gardener’s house and Walled Garden to let.
House for long let with walled garden, deep in the Northumberland National Park near Bellingham. A garden-loving tenant is sought for this newly restored south-facing stone house next to its own 2.2 acre 18th Century walled garden and orchard. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception, oil CH, greenhouses, a garage and numerous outbuildings. The rent is negotiable in the region of £650 per month. Anna Charlton writes: Hesleyside Hall is the only large historic house in the Northumberland National Park and has been the ancestral home of the infamous Border Reiver Charlton clan since the reign of Richard I. It is getting increasingly difficult to maintain and conserve… Read more »
Vacancy for Gardener at Holker Hall, Cumbria
Holker Hall are looking to recruit a motivated skilled gardener to join our team at Holker. The varied gardens have been developed by generations of the Cavendish family and consist of 25 acres of formal borders, lawns, meadows, topiary, water features, woodland, and plant collections. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the ongoing development of the gardens and improve your horticultural skills and knowledge. Salary £18,500 Closing date 30th September 2016 http://www.holker.co.uk/holker-estate/jobs-at-holker/
Forum update
UPDATE FOR THE WKGN ANNUAL FORUM, 8TH-9TH OCTOBER 2016 Although not officially part of the Forum, on Friday morning, 7th October we are thinking about meeting at Culzean Castle Walled Garden, Ayrshire, prior to the weekend. If enough people are interested we will get a group together to visit this magnificent 18thC Walled Kitchen Garden. On Saturday morning, October 8th Brian Corr, Head of Gardens at Dumfries House, will talk about the Restoration of its Walled Garden. He will conduct tours of the garden in the afternoon. Kate Rycroft from the Community Garden at Amisfield, in East Lothian, will talk about their past work at its restoration there and the gardens… Read more »
Lovely Walled Garden available to a Charity
The following email has arrived from Susannah. . . . We are tenants of the NT at Clytha Park, near Abergavenny, and for the past four years, our beautiful walled garden, with newly restored glasshouses, has hosted a horticultural therapy charity called Growing Space. Sadly they are pulling out at the end of this month, but we are keen to replace them with any other charity or group who will benefit from the marvellous space. Might you have any suggestions, or be able to post this on your site? Please respond using the comments link.
July/August 2016 Musings
JULY/AUG 2016 MUSINGS by Maz Gardening Volunteer at Tatton Park Walled Kitchen Garden, Knutsford, Cheshire The Gardens are experiencing ‘invasions’. Several school parties excitedly descend on the Gardens, enjoying their end-of-term treat and discovering the Roald Dahl exhibits staged round the garden. Blackbirds were observed picking off not-quite-ripe cherries from the fan-trained trees on the north-facing wall. A Polytunnel in the Old Nursery and Jerusalem artichokes were flattened by a day of strong wind. The most unwelcome ‘invader’ of all is the annual appearance of the pear-rust fungus, which becomes obvious as orange spots on the leaves of the pear trees. This fungus overwinters on conifers, but as these… Read more »
Exciting find at Croome
A visit to Chris and Karen Cronin at Croome walled garden last month found them exploring a new archeological discovery in an old greenhouse. After carefully examining an old illustration of an unusual vinery they realized that it may very well be the ruined greenhouse attached to the hotwall at the Southern end of the garden. Chris also saw that he could prove this by excavating the floor in one corner and, if correct, he would find steps leading down to a furnace. So, armed with pick and shovel he set about the job . . .2000 calories later his efforts were met with success! … Read more »
Gilmerton House Kitchen Garden
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new walled garden restoration in East Lothian here at Gilmerton House Kitchen Garden. Set in the grounds of Gilmerton House, home to the Kinloch family for the last 300 years, this 4 acre walled garden is set on the edge of Cogtail burn near Athelstaneford – sheltered, south facing and peaceful – a perfect retreat for garden lovers. Untouched for over 40 years or so, the garden will be brought back to its former glory involving groups of dedicated volunteers working together to create a new productive kitchen garden, supplying fruit, flowers and herbs to Gilmerton House. We will also… Read more »