Garden Visits
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Carpet of Snowdrops at St. Mary’s Coddington
Join me on my annual snowdrops visit to the beautiful St. Mary’s church in Cheshire. It’s in a small hamlet called Coddington, which is just 10 miles from the city of Chester, and only one mile from the the country hotel and golf course ‘Carden Park’. History The parish of Coddington is recorded in the Doomsday book, and the quaint little church is grade II listed. The original church on the site was built between the 8th and 10th Century. With the current church being started in March 1833. The foundation stone was laid by Hugh Robert Aldersey, who was just a child at the time – the Aldersey’s’ are…
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Visiting the Gardens at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons. Part 3 – Polytunnels, Compost, The Orchard & Tasting
“Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons is the fulfillment of a personal vision, a dream that one day I would create a hotel and restaurant in harmony where my guests would find perfection in food, comfort, service and welcome.” Raymond Blanc. Having been drawn down the famous lavender path upon arrival, walked around the Manor and on into the vegetable garden in part one. Watched the swan in the lily pond, meandered around the Japanese water garden, before checking out the Herb and Heritage garden, in part two. We now sit, poised on the recycled champagne bottle bench wondering, what does Raymond Blanc grow in his polytunnels? Oh, it’s starting to…
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Visiting the Gardens at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons. Part 2 – Ponds, Herbs, & Saving Our Heritage
Raymond Blanc, talking about his beloved mother. “She instilled values which I have stuck by throughout my career – fresh; local; and seasonal ingredients and made with the art of giving. We picked ours from the garden and they were all organic as they are here today at Le Manoir gardens. I did my apprenticeship as a gardener before becoming a cook!” Last week in part one, we’d arrived in the carpark and taken a stroll down the infamous lavender path, having our first glimpse of the beautiful, honey coloured Manor House. Made our way past the croquet lawn and guests sitting on the Orangerie terrace, drinking in the afternoon…
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Visiting the Gardens at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons. Part 1 – Le Manoir, Lawns, Lavender & Vegetables
“I absolutely love gardens! Way back in 1984, the first thing I did at Le Manoir was create the vegetable garden which would provide for my kitchen and for our guests. Now we have 11 different gardens and a 2,500-strong heritage orchard! Each is inspired by my travels, my childhood, my papa’s garden, books I have read and the wonderful people I have met over the years.” Raymond Blanc. Created in 1984, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is the fulfilment of Raymond Blanc‘s personal vision – to create a hotel and restaurant in harmony, where guests will find perfection in food, service and welcome. I can only start by saying how…
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Hodnet Hall Gardens
A Brief History The first known habitation on this Hodnet Hall site was a Norman castle in the 12th century. More is known about the Timber framed Tudor mansion, which was eventually vacated by the family in 1865, in favour of a new residence up on the hill with stunning views over the beautiful Shropshire countryside. All that remains of the Tudor house, is the stable block which is now the rather good garden restaurant. We sampled the Victoria sponge and the coffee. In the nineteen twenties Brigadier A. G. W. Heber-Percy had the stairway built, to link the house down to the gardens. It was also he that designed…
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Dorothy Clive Garden
Creation of the Garden The origin of the Dorothy Clive Garden has a heart-warming story behind it. About a husbands love for his ailing wife. Colonel Harry Clive’s wife Dorothy, had failing health due to Parkinson’s disease. As a result she couldn’t venture far from the house, but did like to have a regular walk. To make her walks more interesting than just a stroll around the lawn, he decided to develop the overgrown gravel pit, into woodland walks. Sadly Dorothy died just a couple of years after the work started, but apparently she was involved in some of the planting and did get pleasure from the newly created woodland…
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Wollerton Old Hall Garden
Autumn visit to a beautiful garden The enjoyment of Wollerton Old Hall Garden starts as you approach the ticket office. You walk along a gently curving path, lined with trees, shrubs and some of the many colourful salvias. As you look straight ahead the view of the 16th century timber framed hall appears. Symmetrical flattened domes of box either side of the front door, are complemented by a stunning display of plants in pots, reminiscent of the doorway at Great Dixter. The exuberant colours coming mainly from dahlias, of which there are 65 varieties in their collection. At the ticket office is a poster telling you about their plant of…
