Groundworks begin at Berrington after 10 years of planning
After 10 years of planning, groundworks have begun on a flower garden at Berrington Hall, taking inspiration from a 19th-century historic map.
The landscapes of the estate were designed by ‘Capability’ Brown and his son in law, Henry Holland, to harmonise with the mansion house and Triumphal Arch, but over time some of the garden’s important heritage features have become obscured or hidden.
Now, following extensive research, and using funding from National Trust supporters and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, work has started to recall Berrington’s horticultural heyday.
National Trust landscape architect Ed Higgins and senior gardener David Thresher aim to create a sense of theatre with scent, colour, structure and depth, evoking the feeling of an 18th and 19th-century garden experience.
Three new wisteria ‘umbrellas’ will echo the Georgian love of spectacle and the historic wisteria walk will be restored and extended to run the southern length of the walled garden, while a new accessible path network will ensure everyone can enjoy exploring.
As work progresses, the path leading to the hall will be realigned so that visitors can move around the grounds as the Georgians did, enjoying views of the parkland as its designers intended.
An evergreen hedge will be planted to hide the new flower garden from arriving visitors, so that they discover it as a colourful surprise at the end of their circuit.
Ana Vaughan, Project Manager for the Flower Garden project says: “To be in a position where we are re-creating heritage and increasing plant species with the new flower garden is an amazing opportunity for visitors to see an almost completely lawned area become a beautiful flower filled site, teeming with pollinators.
“We cannot wait for people to be able to visit the garden together and hear what they think as the garden matures.
“In modern times, Berrington hasn’t been known as a garden with strong seasonal horticultural appeal but this transformation is set to make it an absolute must-see for garden lovers.”
The money from Blue Diamond will be going to a range of National Trust properties as it enters the third year of a funding commitment.
