The online forum for the Walled Kitchen Gardens Network with all the latest news, events and musings.
European Symposium, Chambord and Forum 2020, Audley End
Forum 2020 – Audley End, 3rd October There is still some uncertainty about the possibility of our Forum taking place at Audley End this year, and so we have decided with them to postpone it until some time next year, 2021 But the good news is that an equivalent event, a European Symposium on Kitchen Gardens, organised by The Walled Kitchen Garden Network in conjunction with Les Potagers du France and Les Amis du Potager de Roi is definitely taking place at Chambord in France on the 15th and 16th of October, this year. Contributors include our old friends Jim and Sarah, talking about West Dean, and Chris and Karen,… Read more »
Doveridge Walled Garden
James Deville contacted The Grapevine with some thoughts about gardening during Lockdown . . . . . See more on their Facebook page Doveridge Walled Garden. It just seems a good time for walled garden owners to post anything they feel at the moment as we are so lucky to have the space and opportunity to make the most of our forced time off from our day jobs. We have done so much to our garden over the past three weeks in that we’ve made our garden our full time jobs completing many tasks that would be virtually impossible in our normal available time along with more setting than would… Read more »
European symposium
Forum 2020 – Audley End
Saturday 3rd October 2020 As you will have read we are returning, by invitation, to Audley End for our Forum this year, to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of reopening of the walled kitchen gardens in 2000, following the extensive restoration by English Heritage of the kitchen garden and glasshouses. It is now also 19 years with since the foundation of the Walled Kitchen Gardens Network by Susan Campbell with the late Fiona Grant. The first WKGN Forum was held at Audley End, on 21st September 2002 For this Forum 2020, we will take a retrospective look at the astounding progress made in the last 20 years, by the Walled… Read more »
FORUM 2020 – AUDLEY END – 20 YEARS LATER
Our Forum this year will be held at Audley End on the 3rd October to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the start of restoration of the garden and glasshouses. These copies of slides were taken by Susan Campbell at different stages of the restoration and of the Royal visit.
Kitchen Gardener
We’re looking for an enthusiastic kitchen gardener to further develop and improve the walled garden at a private residence in Hampshire. The recently built walled garden is in its 3rd year and is home to an Alitex Glasshouse along with 6+ main vegetable beds and top & soft fruits producing high quality and interesting produce which supply the families chef at this weekend residence. This is very much a hands on role for an energetic person, you’ll have a real passion for growing the required produce and presenting the walled garden and glasshouse to the highest of standards at all times, an eye for detail is essential in this role…. Read more »
Forum 2019 Cranborne Dorset
For those arriving on the Friday, ready for the 2019 WKGN Forum at Cranborne in Dorset, the informal pre-Forum dinner was very welcome; a great chance to rest and recharge the batteries while enjoying not only the food but the renewal of old acquaintances, making new ones, and generally enjoying the conviviality thanks, in no small part, to the continued and generous support of Alitex Saturday started in the ‘Garden Room’ at Cranborne with ‘Lapel Label Lucy’ (Pitman) in her usual role of ensuring that everyone had a name-badge to wear. While the weather outside was a little grey, it looked promising for the weekend, and did indeed brighten-up later… Read more »
PROGRAMME FORUM 2019 updated
5th & 6th October Cranborne Garden Centre and Manor Gardens, Walled Gardens of Cranborne Chase, N. Dorset Walled Kitchen Gardens used as Garden Centres & Nurseries Program for Saturday 5th October 9:00 am Registration in the Garden Room, Cranborne Garden Centre – coffee and tea available 10:00 Welcome from Susan Campbell 10:10 – 10:40 Patrick Fairweather – ‘Patrick’s Patch-a community project making business sense’ 10:45 – 11:15 Charlotte Casella – ‘the Walled Kitchen Gardens of Cranborne Manor’ Coffee break 11:15 – 11:30 Garden Tour 11:30 – 1:30pm – a walk through Cranborne Manor gardens, and walled garden with Georgianna Campbell Lunch 1:30 – 2:15 – return to the Garden Room for buffet… Read more »
VACANCY FOR GARDENER
THE WALLED GARDENS AT HOUGHTON HALL Full-time Gardener An exciting opportunity has risen for an enthusiastic horticulturally trained gardener to work in Houghton Hall 5 acre award-winning walled garden. The applicant will ideally hold an academic horticultural qualification at Level 2 (or above) and should have at least two years’ relevant work experience. Candidates must be confident in their use of garden machinery and with their plant knowledge, have an ability to work to a high standard at all times, and in working to established health and safety standards. Chemical spray certificates are desirable but not essential. Responsibilities of the successful applicant will include but are not limited to… Read more »
Forum update
5th & 6th October, Cranborne, Dorset Cranborne Garden Centre and Walled Kitchen Gardens in North Dorset ‘Walled Gardens now used as Garden and Plant Centres’. The Cranborne Estate is on the southern edge of Cranborne Chase AONB and to the west of the New Forest. The whole area displays beautiful, unspoilt and historic landscapes and gardens Our venue is the long established Cranborne Garden Centre sited in the walled kitchen garden, part of the wonderful 17th century Cranborne Estate. Many walled kitchen gardens fell into sharp decline following both world wars, what is seldom noted is how many became wholesale or specialist plant nurseries, some of which evolved to become… Read more »