December in the Garden 

A very Happy Christmas to all our visitors who have supported us this year in the Garden.  We have received lovely feedback and it really does make us happy to know that our visitors are enjoying the garden so much.  We were delighted to see our hard work recognised in The English Garden magazine in December.  The article is illustrated with some gorgeous pictures of the Garden and to be included in such a prestigious publication alongside four other stunning walled gardens made the whole team very proud indeed – please do seek out a copy!  

As we move into the Winter period the hard work really starts to make sure the Garden is ready for next year!  Our tasks include cutting back some of the herbaceous borders, giving them a final weed (as it has been mild the weeds are still coming!) and then mulching them with organic matter to give the soil a boost and help to repress the weeds. 

The Roses on the chains along the Summer and Spring borders have been taken down, pruned and retied.  The Roses on the walls in the Millenium Parterre and around the playpark will be tackled in the New Year.  The Garden Team were treated to a day working with and learning from Niff Barnes who has a great technique for working with climbing and rambling roses – creating structures with the stems which result in a much more floriferous display.  We are going to attempt to replicate the technique on the climbers on the walls and on the cages in the Hot Border so watch out for the results next Summer! 

The glasshouses are washed and disinfected, and we have pruned and cleaned the Grapevines, the Peaches have all had their annual prune and been retied on the wires in the peach house and had new compost added.  

We have also been planting bulbs every time the rain stops!  Our Tulips are in, and we have planted a new selection of Narcissi in the Tapestry Garden to extend the season in this part of the garden.  The Spring Border has had new Hellebores added along with lots of new Spring bulbs which are already beginning to appear due to the mild weather!  

Best wishes for the season and we hope to see everyone in the garden in 2026!