Blog Layout
Great British Gardens with Carol Klein, 5th July, 9pm on Channel 5
From left to right; Carol Klein, Anya Goodwater, Andy Goodwater and Phil Smith
As mentioned on our Home Page, we were one of 8 gardens selected for the new series of Great British Gardens. Showing Wollerton in the four seasons, filming began in October 2019 and finished in June 2020.
The hour long programme is fronted by Carol but includes garden owners John and Lesley Jenkins, Phil Smith
who was Head Gardener at the time, and also Andy and Anya Goodwater, our topiarists. Since filming, Phil has left the garden to launch his own business, Pip Smith Landscape Design.
The programme shows much more detail about life the in garden than is normally found on the Gardeners' World short duration visits. Carol had a wonderful production team from KnickerbockergloryTV and we are really pleased with the results. Please tune in to channel 5 on 5th July at 9pm!
Sowing Wildflower Meadow Seed in The Croft We have sown a wildflower seed mix, for woodland and shade areas, in the Croft. It is 80% grasses and 20% perennial flowers. This is how we prepared the ground and how we will maintain it – We have been working through the year to reduce the most pernicious weeds. The ground was roughly raked over to clear as much debris as possible. After a period of rain and on a day with no wind, we broadcast sowed the seed and lightly raked it over. In March, in the first year, we will just allow the grass and flowers to grow. In September, in the first year, we will strim down the grass and flowers (on a dry day), and leave the strimmings on the ground for two weeks. We will then rake up the strimmings. In March, second year, we will strim everything down to a height of about 6”. This is an important cut to ensure that the grass does not out compete the flowers. We will not remove the strimmings. In September, second year, we will again strim down the grass and flowers (on a dry day), and leave the strimmings on the ground for two weeks. We will then rake up the strimmings. This will then become the regular maintenance cycle. We will also continue to ensure the weeds are kept under control. We used Boston Seeds for our seed mix. MAKE SURE TO COME BACK AND VISIT US TO SEE HOW OUR WOODLAND MEADOW SOWING PROGRESSES!
Well Garden re-design Lesley Jenkins has has proceeded to re-design the Well Garden in collaboration with Phil ( Pip Smith Designs ) . The Garden will change structurally and the tall yew pyramids will be retained as they link back across the garden to the Yew Walk design. The planting will be in green and white with touches of blue. The aim is to have it completed before Easter 2024.
BBC Visits Summer 2023
We are pleased to confirm that we came second to Mapperton, losing by only 438 votes. Many thanks to our 2020 visitors who cast their votes during a very difficult period for everyone.
This month the English Garden has articles on the 6 regional winners in the NGS finals. Wollerton is so fortunate in having the participation of Joe Wainwright and Chris Beardshaw. Joe's full spread shot of the Sundial Garden in high summer will, we are sure, become one of the garden's defining images. Chris's writing may be setting the bar higher in this sort of horticultural format. Thank you both.
Wollerton Old Hall Garden has been announced as a regional winner in a competition to find the nation’s favourite garden run by the English Garden Magazine and supported by Viking Cruises. We were one of 30 shortlisted gardens, all of which open for the National Garden Scheme (NGS). Wollerton Old Hall has been opening for the National Garden Scheme for 30 years and in that time has raised thousands of pounds for the charity. At the awards ceremony at London’s Garden Museum on Monday 4th November, the garden topped its regional category of Wales and The Marches. Head Gardener Phil Smith and Garden Secretary Lucie Jenkins represented the garden and received a commemorative Haddonstone plaque which has since found a new home in the garden summerhouse. The National winner of the competition was Coton Manor in Northamptonshire. You can find out which gardens were the regional winners of 2019’s Nation’s Favourite Gardens competition by visiting the English Garden website.
