As 36 members congregated outside Middlethorpe Hall on what had been an overcast May day, the clouds parted and a beautiful afternoon lay ahead of us.
We were met by Andrew Leighton. He is the head gardener and a former ABC student. Andrew has been working at Middlethorpe Hall for over 20 years and as head gardener since 2017.
We were split into two groups. Andrew walked us around to the main lawn at the back of the Hall, which originally was the front, explaining that they are 99.9% organic, using seaweed feed for everything. The few exceptions to this include the treatment for box moth, which has been a recent problem for the garden.
On the main lawn stands a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon, which is on the register of champion trees and is one of a number of specimen trees in the gardens. Not much of the original planting remains from 1690 and is mostly from the 1980’s, when the Hall was bought and made into a hotel. It was given to the National Trust 12 years ago but continues to be run as a hotel by Historic House Hotels.
At the bottom of the main lawn are two ha-has, from where we were led to the croquet lawn, which was edged with a daisy border including aster, rudbeckia, erigeron and coreopsis. We continued through a glade of trees to the lake area, which floods every year due to its proximity to the river. There is limited choice for planting here as the land is either soggy or baked dry (birch, virburnum and willow). Also, out of 400 crocus bulbs planted, only 20 survived!
From there we were led to the spring garden with another specimen tree, an American red oak and late flowering magnolias. Next was the walled white garden with shades of white including libertia, peony and wisteria.
Within the kitchen garden, an area which had been the shrub rose area was being cleared due to severe bind-weed issues and the plan was to plant vegetables, like a traditional walled garden, with herbaceous borders running through the middle. It also includes a vast array of fruit including apple, pear, greengage, damson, plum, peach….. together with vegetables and herbs, all used by the hotel chef.
Next was the rose garden planted with hybrid musk roses and, pruned at head height for greater impact of the scent.
The area was under planted with geraniums, hellebores and aquilegias and set opposite a beautiful wisteria covered seating area.
The final area was newly created where some large trees have had to be removed. A Turkey oak remains from the original garden.
A massive thank you was then given to Andrew for a very passionate and informative tour through the gardens. There are only two full time gardeners, including Andrew, and a few volunteers. They should be very proud of what they accomplish.
This wonderful afternoon was concluded with scones, jam and cream and a cup of tea either in the hotel or on the main lawn patio, in the presence of the stunning cedar tree.
Text by Jo F
Photos Jo F and Judith
Tags: cedar of lebanon, middlethorpe, red oak