Plants&Gardens Autumn glory at wonderful Weston

Visitors are being given a new chance to walk through history at one of the region’s most prestigious stately homes

Weston Park, the stately home on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border, has announced a new series of guided walks and tours, offering visitors an expert look behind the scenes in both the house and gardens.

On Sunday 29th October head gardener Martin Gee will bring more than 200 years of family history to life with a guided Autumn walk through the stunning Weston Park grounds. Martin, whose family have lived and worked on the estate since 1802, will lead visitors for around two hours, taking in all the glory of Capability Brown’s stunning creation, from the rare pleasure ground of Temple Wood to the wide, expansive views from the Knoll Tower. With the warm tones of autumn washed across the trees, there is no better time to visit one of the region’s most prestigious stately homes.

Visitors to the annual Autumn Plant Fair on Sunday 10th September also have the chance to explore Weston’s 1,000 acres for themselves. The Plant Fair gives gardening enthusiasts the opportunity to find that unique plant, ready for next year’s bloom. Nursery experts will also be on hand to provide expert advice on how to care for your plants throughout the colder months. The whole estate is open to explore, with Capability Brown’s pleasure ground, Temple Wood, bathed in the colours of autumn. Attendees will also be able to discover the wonders of Weston’s gardens from the Formal and Italian Gardens as well as the unique Teardrop Garden.

Red, gold and green

Martin Gee

Martin Gee said: ‘It’s wonderful to be able to lead such an educational walk around our own section of Shropshire and Staffordshire. Capability Brown created a masterpiece when landscaping Weston Park and I believe it’s important that people know how and why it was created. Our estate tells a wonderful story of over 300 years and visitors should be aware of how impactful Capability Brown’s work was to the landscape. To be able to run this walk in the beauty of autumn at Weston just adds to the experience.’

Tickets can be purchased in advance online for £10, or for £15 on the day, with admission prices including access to the wider Park and Gardens. www.weston-park.com/whats-on

All proceeds from the walks and tours go directly to supporting the work of the Weston Park Foundation.

Landscaping legend

Weston Park is one of many estates credited to Capability Brown – but who was he, and why is he so important to gardeners today?

Lancelot

“Capability” Brown, born in 1716 in Kirkharle, Northumberland, was an English landscape designer and gardener who left an indelible mark on the UK’s countryside. Often referred to as the “father of landscape architecture”, Brown’s transformative work during the 18th century reshaped the British landscape and continues to influence garden design today. Brown rose to prominence during the Georgian era, a time of great change and innovation in British society. His talent lay in creating naturalistic landscapes that seamlessly blended with the environment. Rejecting the formal and rigid style of earlier garden designs, he embraced a more informal approach, incorporating sweeping lawns, curving lakes and strategically placed trees and shrubs. He saw the landscape as a canvas on which to paint pictures of nature, using his innate understanding of the terrain to create breathtaking vistas.

His influence can still be seen in many of the UK’s renowned gardens, parks and estates, including Chirk Castle in Wrexham, and Eaton Hall in Cheshire. His design principles have been emulated by subsequent generations and continue to inspire modern designers worldwide.