Ode to the gardens of Beaulieu

The garden of a happy gardener Sébastien Moulin

In this magazine, we let Floréac employee Sébastien Moulin have his say. His passion? France, Provence and gardens. The combination of the three resulted in Les Jardins de Beaulieu.

“It all started in 1997. As a four-year-old lad, an enthusiastic kindergarten teacher allowed me to grow holm oaks. A revelation! Sowing, watering, watching them bloom and grow: my vocation was launched.

For the oak to blossom, you needed a big garden. And I had one. Or at least, my grandparents who were gardeners had one. They nurtured a special bond with nature. A passion they loved to share with me. One thing led to another.

The desire grew and with it the knowledge. An obsession almost. I had to and would collect the right plant species to redesign each garden. My guiding principle? Wonder, the same feeling that filled me as a child.

In 2012, I started working in several Provençal chateaux and became interested in the history of

French gardens.

With the help of my friends, I designed and created the showpiece of the garden: a French kitchen garden. A traditional French style of kitchen gardening, often characterised by symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing designs, where vegetables, herbs and sometimes flowers are planted in neat beds.

In 2015, we decided to call the garden Les Jardins de Beaulieu, in reference to the neighbouring castle.

In 2020, when corona locked people up, I realised that the world was changing. There was a growing realisation that ecosystems needed to be protected and preserved. And so we set up the garden as a biodiversity area protected by the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO).

Today, the 1.5-hectare garden provides a refuge for plant and animal species threatened with extinction. In the largest section, which is feral, they flourish in safety.

At the same time, the garden is a source of food, allowing us to enjoy a wide range of locally grown fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

Close your eyes, lay on the grass and dream away to the gentle chirping of the crickets ...”