14 minute read
GARDENS <he gorgeous green spaces to visit
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Lavender and sensory gardens, meadows, woodlands, even lakes where otters splash about – these are the gorgeous green spaces you can visit nearby
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BUCKFAST ABBEY, DEVON Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0EE; www.buckfast.org.uk We caught up with head gardener, Aaron Southgate...
Tell us a bit about the history Buckfast Abbey is the home of a working community of Benedictine monks. The Abbey was founded by King Canute in 1018. It fell into ruins after the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, before being re-built by a group of exiled French monks 350 years later, a real labour of love. The gardens are visited by thousands of people every year and offer a tranYuil haven from the pressures of daily life. We aim to replicate the sense of community among the monks in our approach to the gardens.
Our ethos is to garden organically and as sustainably as possible. There is an adage: feed the soil to feed the plants, and that approach is central to our work here. We enrich the soil in a variety of ways, which include home-made fertiliser, mulch-mowing and our special homebrewed compost tea.
What can we see or do there? Set within the 30-acre site there are four display gardens: there is the physic garden, which is home to many of the plants and herbs used by the monks in previous centuries to cure everyday ailments. Then we have the sensory garden, designed to appeal to the five human senses. This space provides year-round interest, with grasses for movement, a seat made of thyme and the highly scented old English roses, Deep Secret and True Romance.
<he lavender garden boasts over different varieties of this soothing herb. Buzzing with bees, it’s a wonderful place to sit on a
summer’s day or in the early evening when the light casts a blue haze over the area.
Around the garden, there are plenty of benches in peaceful pockets, where it’s possible to sit and just be. It’s incredible to think that many of the sounds heard here today, the :iver ,art Æowing in the bacSground, the bells and the birdsong, are like the background noises the monks would have been familiar with over a thousand years ago.
Anything to eat or drink? Aes, the shops here offer unusual food, drinS and gift items made by monSs and nuns at different abbeys across the continent, including the famous hand-made fudge in the monastery kitchens.
The Grange Restaurant is open every day of the year, except for +hristmas ,ay, and offers coffee, homemade caSes, lunches and cream teas. There is a covered outdoor seating area which gives great views of the gardens and the spectacular Abbey Church.
What should we look out for? .or the first time in , we have planted wild Æowers on many of the slopes – particularly near the entrances to the Abbey. This provides both biodiversity and a long-lasting splash of colour. In addition, we have planted , spring bulbs this year. ?e plant evergreen shrubs and plants to provide structure throughout the seasons and we have several special trees, including the Handkerchief Tree and the eyecatching California Redwood, which is a rarely seen deciduous conifer.
Any events coming up? The gardens department runs a packed programme of tours and worSshops throughout the year. ?e have a being creative with lavender workshop in June, a behind the scenes tour in July, an upcycling workshop in August and a seeds and cuttings tour in September.
14 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk The daffodils are out at Fursdon House & Gardens
RHS GARDEN ROSEMOOR Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor We caught up with Richard Mulford...
Tell us a bit about your gardens ?e opened to the public in !! when the :osemoor 0ouse and gardens were donated to the RHS by Lady Anne Berry. At the time, only about eight acres of the now 65 acres were already set out as gardens, the rest was pasture land. <he :0S tooS it on in ! and set about creating one of the south west’s iconic gardens with two distinct parts – formal gardens and informal meadows, woodlands and lake / stream. <his year is our th anniversary year when we’ll be having various events to celebrate and so hopefully this growth will continue.
What’s changed over the years in your gardens? 1n , we opened a .m events building which now hosts craft and plant fairs, exhibitions, conferences, weddings, live music and theatre events with guests such as last year Jason Donovan and Leo Sayer. Coming up this May we have Showaddywaddy, then T’pau in July and the Three Degrees in October.
1n ! we opened a brand new garden, designed by a :0S +helsea Flower Show Gold medal designer Jo Thompson. It’s a contemporary garden with water features that help give ideas for dealing with and harnessing Æash Æoods from climate change.
What special stuff should we look out for? ?e have the largest rose gardens in the south west with over , roses. Plus our iconic hot garden with stunning vibrant colours from July through to early autumn complements our brand new cool garden. <hen there is the calming laSe where otters have been filmed, a fully productive fruit and vegetable garden which supplies the restaurant
with produce for the daily menus, and an arboretum with trees from all across the 6orthern 0emisphere. 6atural wild Æower meadows change from yellow through to purple and are a haven for wildlife. <he =pper ?oodlands also are carpeted in over , English *luebells.
Anything unusual or particularly eye-catching? 7ur stunning event G47?, when you really can see the gardens in a new light with high tech winter illuminations lighting up trees, shrubs, sculptures and water features.
What plants should we be purchasing? How about a cactus, bonsai orchid or terrarium for indoors? For outdoors, in ,evon you can get away planting a banana tree in a sheltered spot .or the more adventurous you could grow chillies.
Any events coming up? ?e run or host over different events, courses, worSshops through the course of the year with something on every weeS. ?e even have a holiday panto to linS in with our .lower .airies theme with a trip to 6everland with the spectacular Peter Pan from Gary Starr 8antomimes.
FURSDON HOUSE & GARDENS Fursdon House, Cadbury, Exeter, EX5 5JS www.fursdon.co.uk We caught up with head gardener Katie Vanstone…
Katie Vanstone from Fursdon House & Gardens has the clippers at the ready Prettiest flowers aplenty at St Bridget Nurseries
Tell us a bit about your gardens <hey first opened to the public, along with the manor house, in ! . <hese were Roined by a tea room, housed in the old +oach 0all, Rust a few years later. ?hen ,avid and +atriona .ursdon tooS over running the house and estate in ! !, the garden had been sadly neglected for many years. 7ver the last years, worS has been ongoing to restore, redesign, and extend the gardens. 5any trees and hedges have been planted, and new Æowerbeds created, which are now generously pacSed with shrubs, roses and herbaceous planting in a relaxed, informal style. 4ast summer, stewardship of .ursdon was passed on to the next generation, and worS continues to develop the gardens further.
What do you love about the gardens? ?hen 1 started worSing as gardener here three years ago, 1 YuicSly fell for the magic of .ursdon 1t is such a special place. 6estled in the heart of the rolling mid ,evon hills, the peaceful four acre gardens surrounding the .ursdon family home offer stunning views across the Exe >alley countryside. <he gardens aren’t formal and clipped to perfection · and that’s exactly how we liSe them <hey are relaxed and welcoming, full of colour and interest, and 1 hope that they are an inspiring and uplifting place for visitors to enRoy.
Anything unusual or particularly eye-catching? <he +oach 0all planters are filled with tulips and wallÆowers for spring, and this summer, the display includes dahlias, grasses, salvias, gaura and sweet peas · inspiration for garden lovers as they enRoy tea and a homebaSed treat at the tearoom
In terms of how you decide what to grow in your garden, who or what inspires you? .ursdon is very much a wildlife friendly garden, and 1 strive to choose
plants for the garden that will encourage wildlife – hopefully creating a very healthy eco-system. Visitors often comment on how alive the garden is with birdsong, bees and butterÆies which is wonderful. 1 take inspiration for my planting schemes from various places – a lot of reading , and 1 visit as many other gardens as possible, too.
What is your favourite garden near Exeter? .avourite garden' <ough Yuestion <here are so many 1 love to visit. My favourite near Exeter has to be the wonderful High Garden in Kenton. A true plantsman’s garden, owned by the lovely Chris and Sharon Britton, is packed with interesting plants and trees – so much inspiration!
Any cool plants you recommend growing? 1 wouldn’t be without a lemon verbena plant · it needs a sunny, sheltered spot, planted in the ground or a large pot. 1t’s brilliant for brushing past to release its amazing lemony scent when a refreshing pick-me-up is needed! A herb with so many uses; to name a few – the leaves can be used to make amazing sorbet, delicious tea, and a sprig of it in a gin and tonic, sipped in the summer sunshine, is just the best!
What events have you got coming up? Trees & Woods Day on 28 June, 2-5pm. Come and celebrate our amazing, very varied and very beautiful trees.
ST BRIDGET NURSERIES Two locations: Old Rydon Lane and Clyst St Mary Exeter www.stbridgetnurseries.co.uk We caught up with managing director Tammy Falloon …
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS “When you go into a garden centre speak to a member of the plant team and tell them what your lifestyle is like. I strongly believe that people who say they can’t garden – can they just don’t know it yet. Choosing the right plant and understanding what it does in each season is the first step to becoming a gardener. Tammy Falloon, St Bridget Nurseries
“The late, great gardener, Beth Chatto, said ‘Right plant, right place’, and it’s excellent advice! Whether it’s a plant you’ve bought or grown yourself, make sure you find out what conditions it needs to grow well and that your garden can provide them – then it will thrive and encourage you to grow more. Katie Vanstone, Fursdon House & Gardens
“Have a watch of gardening programmes and see what inspires you, visit lots of gardens including friends and family and make a note of the bits, the plants you like or don’t like. Decide how much time you want to spend in your garden as this will help you decide what plants to look out for.” Richard Mulford, RHS Garden Rosemoor
“Take your time and think about the primary use of the garden – is it for relaxation, to grow food or outdoor space for family life?
Draw up a plan and be meticulous with measurements. Take a bird’s eye view over the area and be sure to include on your plan only those features unlikely to be changed, such as trees.
Create your ‘desire lines’ – where will the paths run, where is the best place to sit in the sun and the shade?” Aaron Southgate, Buckfast Abbey
RHS Garden Rosemoor in full bloom
Tell us a bit about your garden centres We were established in 1925 on an acre of land that my later greatgrandparents used to grow a marSet crop of Æowers called )nemone St *rigid. 7ver the years we started to grow field and container grown crops and evolve into a garden centre business.
How has your garden centre developed? There have been a lot of changes over the years. Not least during the Second World War when all production had to be halted as the family were involved in the dig for victory campaign instead. The types and Yuantities of crops we grow have altered over the years too. ?hen 1 was a child we supplied thousands of trees but as gardens have become smaller so too has the demand for larger plants. This year will see further change as we sadly close our Old Rydon Lane garden centre at the end of May to focus and develop our centre at Clyst St Mary. We will continue to use the Old Rydon Lane site for growing plants.
What is special about your centres? *oth our garden centres have a cafu, maSing us a great day out. 1’ve
also heard us referred to as ‘an oasis in the city’! What plants are proving popular? The top seller in late spring is bedding plants. These are your Æouncy, bright, impactful annual plants that are used in pots, hanging baskets and “There is the calming lake where otters have been filmed”
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NO SPACE? You can still have a garden…
“A house plant or window box can still bring incredible pleasure. To see things grow and flower or produce fruit and vegetables is good for mental health – it has been proven how beneficial it is for people’s health and well-being.” Richard Mulford, RHS Garden Rosemoor
“If you don’t have much space, consider making a pond in a small container, such as a barrel. This will help attract wildlife, as will sowing wild flowers and planting garden shrubs like Buddleia.” Aaron Southgate, Buckfast Abbey
“Think of the vertical (use it) and choose slow growing plants to keep things small and manageable.” Tammy Falloon, St Bridget Nurseries
borders. As we move into summer perennials take the top spot; these are plants you would typically see on a chocolate box picture of a ,evon +ottage. <hey offer great value as they die bacS after Æowering and then re-appear year after year.
Any cool plants should we have a go at growing? Sempervivums also known as succulents or house leeks. They are very trendy and can be grown inside or out. They are very low maintenance and small. The only thing you mustn’t do is get them too wet or freezing. n
Taking a welcome sip of water at Buckfast Abbey
FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS
Green Thumb Lawn care www.greenthumb.co.uk/branch/ exeter
Otter www.otterhouse.co.uk
Bow Aquatics www.bowaquatics.co.uk
Homeleigh Garden Centre www.homeleigh.co.uk
Radmore Tucker www.radmoretucker.co.uk
Mole Avon www.moleavon.co.uk
Tuckers country stores www.edwintucker.co.uk/countrystore Urban and rural plants www.urbanandruralplants.co.uk
Kings Garden and leisure www.kingsgardenandleisure.co.uk
Bernaville www.bernaville.co.uk
A&S Paving www.aspaving.co.uk
KJ Stoneman Facebook: @ KJ Stoneman
Trago www.trago.co.uk/stores/newtonabbot
Shields Buildings www.shieldsbuildings.co.uk
