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PRESIDENT – Anne Harrison, Kew Dip. Hort

Past Presidents: Mr. D.M. Ballard, NDH; Mr. T. Deans, NDH; Mr. S.M. Davies, M.Hort. (RHS), DHE, Cert.Ed., MIHort.; Dr. Susan V. Sherwood, BSc, PhD

In this Issue

• Study Day – DATE CHANGE - to Friday 2 November

• Roy Lancaster’s Life in Plants – an inspirational talk

• Dates for your 2019 diary

• Study Day title and speakers published inside

• Reports on four memorable Summer Visits

• How to pay your 2018/19 Membership Subscription

The magnificent celebration cake for our 40th Anniversary

What a cake! What a day! What a celebration that was. Our Special Anniversary Study Day at Reaseheath was an enormous success. It was so pleasing to have so many members and ex-members with us to celebrate our 40 years in existence. And how lucky we were to have plantsman Roy Lancaster with us. His lecture ‘My Life with Plants’ made our 40-year Anniversary into something very special indeed. Many members described his talk as “inspirational”

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and surely all would agree. He inspired us to work for the conservation of plants and to follow his example and take advantage of all life’s opportunities. After his talk Roy planted a tree Betula albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ on a bank beside the Horticulture Building at Reaseheath to commemorate the occasion of our Ruby Anniversary.

Roy Lancaster planting the tree aided by Anne Harrison

When we wrote to Roy afterwards to thank him for joining us on our Anniversary Day and for his inspirational talk, in reply he sent his best wishes to everyone and remarked that we were “a lovely audience”. He had “enjoyed talking to our members who were very welcoming and responsive”.

All Study Day ticket numbers were entered into a Prize Draw and THEA Member Ann Pinnington won the prize – the Spade used by Roy Lancaster to plant the tree. We hope she has put it to good use in the summer.

The afternoon of the Study Day was a little less hectic with a very relaxed Anne Harrison reminding us of the ‘Gardening Developments’ over the last 40 years. Finally, everyone relaxed over tea and cake. Now we are nearing the end of our 40th Anniversary year with its special programme of events and garden visits. For those who missed it or part of it or just want a reminder of a good day out, look later in this Newsletter issue for Members’ reports on all the events. Thank you to all who have contributed photographs, an article or a report to this Newsletter. But it is not over yet – we still have some very good things to come. Friday 2nd November is our next Study Day at Reaseheath where you can meet your former colleagues and attend the talks. The speakers and the programme for the day are announced overleaf.

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STUDY DAY PROGRAMME Friday, 2nd November 2018 - Main Lecture Theatre, Reaseheath College

From 10.00 Sign in Members leave items for Plant/Book Sale

10.15 Coffee available in Restaurant

10.45 Lecture: ‘‘The Landscape Designs of Humphry Repton, (1752-1818)” Kate Harwood, Garden Historian, The Gardens Trust

11.45 THEA Plant & Gardening Book Sale

12.00 Lunch available in Restaurant Plant & Gardening Book Sale - continued

1.30

40th Annual General Meeting 2017/18

1.45

Raffle Prize Draw

2.00 Lecture: “Japanese Gardens – Vision of Paradise” Graham Hardman, Garden Designer

Kate Harwood Kate is a garden historian, holding a Masters in Garden History from Birkbeck College. She is a lecturer, writer and researcher in garden history and has taught on courses for Cambridge University and Birkbeck College, London. Kate is a member of Hertfordshire Gardens Trust and she also serves on the Conservation Committee of The Gardens Trust and is thus part of the UK national team with the statutory duty to comment on planning applications that affect registered historic parks and gardens. Kate was the research co-ordinator for the ‘Capability’ Brown celebrations in 2016 and is now instrumental in co-ordinating the 2018 Repton Bicentenary celebrations organised by The Gardens Trust. Humphry Repton (1752-1818) is the landscape gardener and watercolourist whose designs became popular at the end of the 18th century after the death of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. He produced around 400 designs, many presented to landowners in ‘Red Books’, books covered in red Morocco leather. A Red Book was clearly a possession to be proud of and it remained in the landowner’s library where it could be shown to important visitors. In Cheshire it is known that Repton worked on 6 sites that include Rode Hall and Tatton Park. Graham Hardman Graham Hardman has been designing gardens, with a particular interest in Japanese gardens, for the last 10 years following a career in the computer industry. He is Chairman of the Japanese Garden Society and leads tours to Japan for Society members. For several years he has been giving lectures, seminars and courses on all aspects of Japanese gardens. As a designer, Graham has built three Show gardens, winning the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Student Design Competition in 1999 and RHS Silver medals in 2001 and 2005. The Japanese Garden Society has also won two RHS Gold medals, a Silver-Gilt and Silver medals for gardens at Chelsea, Hampton Court and Tatton Park. It will be fascinating to hear about the design and significance of a Japanese garden which is the continuation of a long tradition going back over 1400 years.

40th Annual General Meeting

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Our Annual General Meeting for 2018 will be held in the Main Lecture Hall after lunch at the Study Day. If you are unable to attend, please contact any committee member and leave your apologies. We try to keep the AGM as short as possible by sending out information for your scrutiny prior to the meeting. We are aware however that it is important that we leave enough time for you to question the Committee and for you to get your ideas and opinions across. The following papers have already been dispatched by email and by post:

• AGM Agenda

• Minutes of 39th AGM (2016/17)

• Annual Report 2017/18

• Treasurer’s Financial Report 2017/18

• Request for Nominations to THEA Committee

Nominations to THEA Committee

This year we have had eight members on the committee and that has enabled us to operate smoothly and put on some additional events. It has been great fun sourcing a tree, a name plaque, a cake and planning outings. However, we know that three long-standing committee members, Marion, Freyda and Judith will be stepping down in November at the 2018 AGM. The membership was informed of this and we have asked for your help because we recognise that the committee will need extra help when these members leave.

We would like to invite you to join THEA Committee either now at the AGM or at any other time. To find out more, either speak to one of the committee members, or read the Nominations to THEA Committee information sheet which has been emailed or posted to you together with the AGM Papers.

Annual Subscriptions for 2018/19 Now Due

Annual Subscriptions for 2018/19 became due on 1st September 2018; it remains at £10.00 for both Members and Associate Members. You can pay your subscription at the Study Day. New members who joined over the summer months (June – August) do not need to renew until 01/09/19. Please see the information sheet emailed with this Newsletter for details of how to pay at the Study Day.

Report - 40th RUBY Anniversary Study Day - Friday 1st June, 2018

It was full house at the special 40th Anniversary Study Day with many “retired” members coming back to college after years of absence and it was great to see them meet their friends and colleagues again often after many years.

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My Life with Plants – Roy Lancaster Debbie Holden Roy is an engaging and enthusiastic speaker and has led such an interesting and varied life. His talk was wonderfully illustrated with many photographs which helped bring it to life. Roy explained how he became interested in plants, his influences, how his career developed and some of the many adventures he has had. Roy was born in 1937 and brought up in Bolton. Living on the northern fringe of the town, as a child he used to escape onto the moors for adventures with his friends and later developing an interest in local birds. In 1951 returning from a birdwatching trip, Roy spotted a mystery plant growing at the edge of some allotments which piqued his interest. His teacher and the curator at the local museum were unable to identify the plant, so the curator sent if off for identification resulting in Roy receiving a letter from the Professor of Botany at the Natural History Museum (and a certain amount of fame at school). The plant was a Mexican tobacco plant (Nicotiana rustica) and was probably the start of his lifelong fascination with plants.

Roy at the start of his lecture at Reaseheath Roy’s mystery plant, Nicotiana rustica – pinterest.com

Roy joined the Bolton Field Naturalists which further inspired him, with a series of memorable speakers on a wide range of subjects. One particular speaker, Vicar Shaw, became Roy's mentor and Roy joined him on many plant-locating and cataloguing adventures. When Roy left school his first job was as an apprentice gardener (or nipper) at the Bolton Parks Department where he worked closely with the other gardeners in a variety of different gardens and the plant collections maintained in the parks, gathering a greater knowledge of plants. When called up for National Service he was delighted to find he had been posted to Malaya. He was not deterred by the prospect of slogging through the jungle with spiders and snakes, but relished seeing the

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exotic jungle flora and fauna. Much of his spare time there was spent documenting species encountered and sending specimens back to museums and botanical gardens, to the bemusement of his fellow soldiers. On returning to Bolton he resumed his job with the Parks Department but subsequently expanded his horizons by going on to study at Cambridge Botanic Gardens, receiving a more academic education. In 1962 once his Cambridge training was complete he was offered a job at Hillier Nurseries in Winchester. His time there was spent in various tasks from inventorying stock, propagation, producing catalogues, writing articles and other publications (including a significant contribution to the Hiller Manual of Trees and Shrubs). Later his work entailed him taking a number of trips abroad, including an important trip to Iran to help establish a botanic garden there. In 1977 the Hillier Arboretum was gifted to Hampshire County Council and Roy transferred along with it as Curator of the Arboretum, with day to day responsibility for the arboretum and its staff. However, in 1980 after finding the strictures of council limiting, he chose to launch a freelance career. This included speaking engagements, television appearances and television series and a number of expeditions around the world to collect plants. Roy then went on to talk more about his own garden and its development over 30 years. Roy and his family moved house in 1982 and the surrounding garden was rather neglected and so was a blank canvas for Roy to develop. He arrived with a truck-load of plants from his old garden and before long the garden was blooming with many beautiful and exotic plants.

Roy's book 'My Life with Plants' goes into much more detail and is well worth reading.

40 Years of Gardening Developments Kate Bell The afternoon talk on June 1st was about how gardening has changed over the last forty years and was given by the THEA President, Anne Harrison. Having started studying at Kew Botanical Gardens in 1976, Anne has witnessed the changes first hand.

Domestic gardens were the first subject in which Anne talked about the gardens of the 1970s where there were still mainly formal designs, beginning with spring bulbs and followed by bedding out in straight lines, with such plants as Alyssum, Lobelia ‘Crystal Palace’ and Salvia ‘Blazes of Fire’. In the 80s formal bedding was still used, but with a different colour palette e.g. Nemesia and Mesembryanthemum.

They were set in traditional herbaceous borders with tall plants at the back and shorter ones at the front. Whereas, Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana, was widely used in the 70s, now we have prairie beds, inspired by Piet Oudolf with Miscanthus, Pennisetum and other grasses, together with some herbaceous perennials like Verbena bonariensis with their foliage and seed heads providing year-long interest.

There are now gardens designed for winter. Anglesey Abbey was one of the first. There are also ones at Bodnant and Dunham Massey – National Trust gardens that now stay open all year long, with each season having something to attract the visitor.

Anne talked about the introduction of Gravel Gardens, inspired by Beth Chatto and Pictorial Meadows devised by Nigel Dunnett and found in places like the Olympic Park and Trentham. In 1976 the Peace Rose was voted the world’s most popular plant and by 1992 100 million plants had been sold. Rose beds were

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common but now roses are often planted in mixed borders to extend the season of interest and David Austin has introduced repeat flowering roses.

Fruit and vegetables have made a resurgence, having gone through a slump after the war when everybody had to grow vegetables! Recently, Anne explained vegetable seed and plants have outsold flowers. Our environmental awareness has changed too. In the past, we relied heavily on pesticides, especially in farming, where higher productivity was required. Now the amount of chemicals available has been drastically reduced, neonicotinoids have disappeared and we are encouraged to think of other methods of control, including biological controls, to reduce adverse impact to the environment.

Gardens are now thought of as an outdoor living space, rather than just something to look at, with the introduction of decking and water features (the Ground Force effect), patios, seating areas, barbeques and hot tubs.

Anne explained that commercial horticulture has changed too over the years. Research is continuing to try to replace peat-based compost with a more environmentally friendly growing medium and that some progress has been made. Plants, once only available to gardeners in the dormant period are now available all year round, with the introduction of containers, in the form of clay and then plastic, which lead to an exponential growth in garden centres. Micropropagation has been developed to allow large scale propagation of virus free plants and those that are hard to propagate by conventional methods. e.g. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ and due to the introduction of different fruit rootstocks fruit trees can be a more manageable size. Anne concluded her interesting talk with a few words about the future. Hydroponics would probably become more widespread and, with the introduction of total replacement lighting, crops could be grown almost anywhere. Also, that the innovation of commercial and domestic machinery, such as ride on mowers and cordless tools will save many man hours and maybe a few aching backs!

Reports on Summer Visits

With four to choose from this year, we have been spoiled for choice of outings to gardens. Some of us have been lucky and managed to get to all four. Here are short reports on the outings written by THEA members. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Visit to Henbury Hall Gardens – 26th June 2018 Sarah Walton Phew, what a scorcher! Saddleworth Moor smouldering and the hottest place in England, Rostherne, not far away from our destination, registering in at 29⁰C. Nevertheless our intrepid garden enthusiasts set off to explore the gardens of Henbury Hall. In 1649 Henbury Hall was described as ‘a very sumptuous house with courts, gardens, orchards well stocked with good fruits, dove house…’ and it did not disappoint us. We had a delightful day, beginning with a friendly hello, and welcome cups of tea with cake. Henbury Hall is designed based on Palladio’s Villa Rotonda near Vicenza, Italy and owner Sebastian de Ferranti commissioned Julian Bicknell as architect. (Julian Bicknell had previously worked on interiors at Castle Howard.)

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Mrs de Ferranti greeted us as we entered the gardens, and standing alone the house itself was very grand. The gardens give way to a great many surprises by entering each area though an opening, be it a gateway or an arch, or a sweeping pathway with views round corners and bends. Some gardens contained fountains or statues, topiary and even window frames that the creator enticed you to look though. We were taken around the gardens by Sean Barton, the head gardener. He was very interesting to talk to, sharing his experiences and ideas for the gardens.

Sean Barton, right, talking to Michael Russell from Tirley Garth Water lilies in the pond in the courtyard

Cleverly designed and our curiosity growing, there were no end of interesting features to gaze upon. Particularly interesting and quirky, a Temple Bell is situated near the walled garden, it was brought over from Japan in 1874. Its chime was very soothing to the ear.

Woodlands surrounding the walled garden and topiary gardens were majestic with many mature trees and sweeping pathways which lead alongside a lake. A gravity fed fountain, provided added interest and a red Chinese style bridge stood out in contrast across the water.

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Set against the outer south side of the walled garden, the historic peach houses by Foster & Pearson stretched the length of the entire wall. Sean took us through the doorway into the walled garden itself - another surprising and interesting space.

The glasshouses in the walled garden contained cactus and ferns and with the present hot weather I think perhaps a nod had gone out to preserving water under the bell jar. Unless of course the gardeners placed the watering can rose heads here so they knew where to find them next time!

A certain wise toad was found in the glasshouse keeping cool under the bench in a tank which held water. A jolly good idea! Before I finish my report I have to mention the pool house, as you can see from the photograph the building makes a statement. It was actually very hot inside and so I don’t think bringing swimming costumes would have been a benefit. But what a pool, I think you’ll agree. Mrs de Ferranti came to say goodbye as we prepared to leave at the end of our visit. We thanked her for the privilege of having the freedom to enjoy her gardens and sharing it with us.

Wollerton Old Hall 30TH July 2018 Carolyn Yardley A group of us visited Wollerton Old Hall in Shropshire on 30th July. After weeks and weeks of dry sunny weather, rain was forecast. We were well equipped with waterproof coats and brollies, but we were lucky as it stayed fine.

We were greeted at the gate by head gardener Phil Smith who pointed us in the direction of the tea room for morning coffee. We then gathered later in front of the 16th century house and Phil gave us a bit of history about the gardens. The owners, Lesley and John Jenkins designed and started to develop the gardens in 1984. Lesley originally lived there as a child but moved away. The house later came up for sale and she and John bought it.

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The garden covers 4 acres around the house. It is set out into a series of “rooms” divided by hedges (mainly clipped yews) walls and paths, each area with a different style and colour scheme. There are also several summer houses with different aspects and benches strategically placed. The bottom end of the garden has been left as a natural woodland area which John looks after.

The greatest impact for me in the garden was the beautiful hydrangeas. In the courtyard there are several large containers with Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ in. These are removed and repotted temporarily and tulips are planted in the containers for a Spring display. We saw many more hydrangeas throughout the garden with a spectacular display either side of the rill.

Walking down to the bottom of the garden we spotted a lovely blue hydrangea. The hot garden looked wonderful with orange, yellow and red cannas, helenium, dahlias and nasturtium with agapanthus mixed in. Of course there was a seat for visitors to admire this part of the garden.

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The blue Hydrangea Spectacular cannas Blossom on a young Eucryphia tree

It was then time to head to the tea rooms for a fabulous lunch of soup and a sandwich (the sandwich had proper thick cut ham). After we had been to the plant sales area, we headed off to Hodnet for our nest visit.

THEA outing to Hodnet Hall, 30th July 2018 Hilary Robinson We went to Hodnet Hall after our morning at Wollerton Old Hall. Hodnet Hall is entered via a gate close to the centre of Hodnet village, a picturesque cluster of cottages and shops. Apparently the church is Norman, famed for its connection with Bishop Heber, and has the only octagonal church tower in Shropshire. We met near the restaurant, and gardener Geoff Potter greeted us and gave us an introduction to the Hall, its owners and the sixty-plus acres of gardens. The Heber-Percy family have lived here for many generations, but much of the garden development was carried out in the twentieth century. It was fascinating to hear that the three-storey Hall, built in the mid-1800s, eventually proved too big and demanding for the family, who had the top storey removed in the 1960s.

Geoff Potter informing us of the history The dovecot

The gardening staff varies from three to five full-time-equivalents over the course of the year, led by the current Mr Heber-Percy. (They must be very busy people!) According to the website, Hodnet has recently been awarded National Collection Status for Cercidiphyllum. These wonderful trees colour beautifully in autumn and give off a powerful aroma of toffee as the leaves fall, hence the common name of "burnt sugar trees".

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Brigadier A.G.W. Heber-Percy was the driving force behind Hodnet’s re-modelling in the 1920s, including damming the stream to create a series of lakes. The walks around these lakes are charming at all seasons of the year, and display some splendid trees and shrubs, plus vistas of the Shropshire landscape. Having visited in the spring, I can recommend bluebell time.

The garden was first opened to the public in the 1950s, and is now open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. The planting is continually developing. Nearer the Hall, which is not open to the public, there are a variety of gardens, with plenty to admire including herbaceous borders and a variety of shrubs and trees. Many of us made a bee-line for the kitchen gardens, which supply the Hall with produce. We passed the historic tithe barn and brick dovecot before entering the spacious, walled kitchen gardens to admire the fruit, vegetables and cut-flower plantings, including some superb wall-trained fruit trees and redcurrants.

The old Tithe Barn Pears on the espalier tree in the kitchen garden

Unfortunately, a sharp shower sent us scuttling into the potting shed for shelter. The rain was welcome after the long drought we have had, but it could have been better timed! Donning our waterproofs, we set off walking round the lakes, but the weather did put rather a dampener on our visit. I hope to visit again, perhaps next June, when there is usually a Rare Plant Fair event at Hodnet. A visit to Levens Hall, 22 August 2018 Helen Gardiner Despite the drizzly rain for our visit to Levens Hall, we had a very enjoyable morning. We were met by the head gardener who gave us a brief introduction to the history of the garden, and key features that we should look out for.

The legendary topiary garden lives up to its reputation and the old trees, some of which date back to the 1600s, are amazing. It is said to be the oldest topiary garden in the world. In among the fabulous tree shapes are borders of annuals in different colour blocks. Particularly lovely was the mauvy-blue combination of Ageratum houstonianum, Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’ and Lavandula pinnata.

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Our exploration took us past wild flower borders planted with flowers beloved by bees such as Echium vulgare and Malva sylvestris, and into the beech circle at the centre of some fabulous hedges. Indeed, we could walk through gaps in the hedges and stand inside to see how the individual trees had grown to form a dense hedge (below left) or a pleached tunnel (below right). A horticultural delight!

Other highlights of the garden included fruit trees such as medlars (left, below) and mulberries (right, below), herb and vegetable gardens, and a croquet lawn (there was a game in progress during our visit!). Our tour was made even more interesting by listening to Harry Delaney and Anne Harrison explain some of the garden’s features to those of us lucky enough to be walking around with them.

Gresgarth Hall Visit - Wednesday 22 August 2018 Susan de Kretser After an interesting morning at Levens Hall, anticipation was high for our afternoon visit to Gresgarth Hall Gardens, the home of world-renowned landscape designer and plantswoman, Arabella Lennox-Boyd, (Chelsea Show Gold Medal winner 1996) who purchased the site in 1978. Nestling on both sides of Artle Beck, a tributary of the River Lune, Gresgarth, Norse for ‘Boar Yard’ is steeped in antiquity, there originally being a pele tower possibly dating as far back as 1330.

At THEA we certainly know how to make an entrance. On arrival, our coach driver rapidly assessed the situation and decided that reversing up the access lane traversing the parkland was the safest approach. This certainly added to the excitement, negotiating overhanging branches and ditches and approaching the setting in a thoroughly unorthodox manner. Upon alighting from the coach, we were swiftly marshalled through to the walled kitchen garden for a brief introduction from the Head Gardener who armed us with maps and instructions for finding our way around the 12-acre grounds. We were generally given free reign except for the top terrace which was obviously private for the residents, whom I am sure were not keen to look out from their windows upon rain soaked horticultural enthusiasts.

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The initial pitstop in the kitchen garden was a delight for the keen vegetable growers, with its apple and pear trees trained into goblet shapes, potager and variety of vegetables elegantly supported by finialed stakes! The overall effect was reminiscent of Beatrix Potters’ illustrations from Peter Rabbit. It was certainly a cut above your average veg patch/allotment, (well certainly my own) giving an overall rustic feel with a hint of grandeur. The overall attention to detail certainly gave food for thought (pardon the pun) and useful ideas to use back home! For those of you familiar with the basic tenets of garden design, namely symmetry, flow, focal points, theme, cohesion and so on, you will agree that this garden did not disappoint, serving as a lasting testament to its owner’s creative genius. Although not a garden design student, I would also add the challenge of making the garden interesting in all seasons and weather. This challenge was certainly put to the test during our visit thanks to the persistent precipitation. However, this did not dampen our spirits judging from the smiles (see photograph below). It takes more than a little rain to deter the keen horticulturalist. I was also mindful of a recent visit to Hampton Court Flower Show and a design lecture given by Joe Swift who extolled that good design was like a journey and it had to have a destination. Hence with this in mind I commenced my exploration. After initially following on behind, I abandoned the map and let the garden lead me round what were essentially a series of carefully thought out garden rooms. There was no fixed style, as there appeared to be a mix of the Italianate, particularly on the terrace with the stone urns and grand steps, with a hint of the Orient on the bridge and viewing platform on the banks of Artle Beck. Formal seemed to blend effortlessly with informal. (Note the formal Italianate terrace overlooking the lake, below).

Careful attention to detail maintains interest and entices the individual to explore to see what is round the next corner. Every opportunity is taken to incorporate the unusual. For example, a hedge is not merely a hedge but a serpentine hedge leading to a stone focal point. Paths are not merely for walking on but are works of art formed from cobbled paving designed by Maggie Howarth showing the four family zodiacs linked by the milky way. (See the olive tree for Arabella, below).

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The garden was full of pleasant surprises and novelties. I think the group could be likened to a bunch of children in a sweetie shop. There was something of interest for everyone. Keen plant enthusiasts were fortunate to have our former tutors, Anne and Harry on hand with their encyclopaedic knowledge and garden designers were not short on inspiration.

The only thing missing was a tea room. However, back on the coach we were all kindly given fruit cake and/or flapjack courtesy of Judith. I hope everyone else enjoyed the trip as much as I did and would like to thank Alison and members of the committee involved for their efforts in organising such an interesting garden visit. Humphry Repton’s Tatton Estate - a Study Visit 4th September 2018 Marion Barker On a beautiful September morning I drove through the prestigious Tatton Park stone gates at the Knutsford entrance onto the driveway surrounded by elegant parkland, grazing deer and the still water of the Meres. In the distance peeping between the autumnal trees was the impressive Tatton Park Mansion. Little did I know then that this was all Humphry Repton’s work when in 1792 he proposed a redesign of the entrance taking down the hovels at the end of King’s Street to give the Park an impressive entrance from the town.

These are the words Repton uses to describe Tatton Park under the heading ‘Situation and Character’ in his Red Book produced in 1792. “The situation of Tatton may be justly described, as too splendid to be called interesting, and too vast to be deemed picturesque; yet it is altogether beautiful in spite of that greatness which is rather the attribute of sublimity than of Beauty.” Simon Tetlow the Head Gardener of Tatton Park and Harry Delaney led our tour. It was a fascinating in- depth tour with insightful knowledge of Humphry Repton’s life and work. Repton (1752-1818) seemed to ricochet off the work from the famous Capability Brown’s sweeping landscapes and large vistas of lakes and extended views, with a romantic classicism of landscape design. Repton did not bring a set pattern of design but looked at “what could be” in each estate with an artistic and visionary eye.

Harry Delaney and Simon Tetlow discussing Repton’s plan Repton’s watercolour proposal for the Tatton landscape

Repton had a wealthy upbringing. He was sent to Rotterdam as a young man to work in the textile import/export trade. From a young age his interests were botany, nature and watercolour painting. His copper plate handwriting and beautiful finely detailed watercolours were impressive in the Red Book.

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Repton enjoyed people and places; he tried to be a social climber and mix with the higher classes but his life changed and he went from riches to rags. He took his family to live in a humble cottage in Hare Street, Essex. Later in 1816, he published a typical double illustration of his home with the left image showing his garden before improvement and the right image showing it after improvement with roses over arbours. Repton adapted to his new life and became a writer and ‘landscape gardener’. Repton was a survivor. Note: We showed this illustration in THEA Newsletter, Winter 2018, page 8.

Then one night after Capability Brown had died Repton had a dream that he would be a landscape designer. He wrote letters to all the gentry he knew and in five years had forty commissions. This was the start of new things and he travelled the country looking at estates with new eyes, using his artistic and visionary tendencies and the ability to “reveal and conceal”. He charmed himself into the houses and often headed for the lady of the house for her view of the aesthetics of her estate, which he included in his plans.

Repton was the man who changed Tatton Park to what we see today. The driveway once was the straight Beech avenue from Mereheath Lane along the boundary of the estate (now golf course) which then came around to the front of the house (now the Italianate Gardens). Repton changed the driveway to show the extent of the grounds by starting at the top of Kings Street, knocking down hovels and building an impressive Stone gateway leading through the deer park with hunting grounds and meres on each side, the view of the Mansion initially hidden and revealed in the distance, arriving at the back of the house.

Repton’s Knutsford Entrance The approach to the mansion

Repton writes in his Red Book – “After passing the brow, from whence we obtain the first view of the distant mansion, we shall descend into the valley, and again lose sight of it, but here we shall have fresh objects to engage the attention, the continuation of the water, or rather that river which will flow very nearly to the road’s side will be an interesting circumstance”.

Another change was the view from the front of the house. A Mere close to the house was drained and a mound formed with trees to conceal Merchant Mere so that the view from the house looked like a river flowing from one Mere to the other.

The view from the house as Repton found it - flaps down.

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Simon Tetlow pointing to Repton’s proposed “improvement” to the view from the house – flaps pulled back

The view from the house today

Tatton’s original Red Book is kept in John Rylands Library in Manchester; a copy displayed in Tatton Library, which we were privileged to see. It is beautifully depicted in watercolour with overlays to show his proposed “improvements”. Exquisitely written details and professionally bound in tan/red leather. A work of art.

As we toured around the parkland, gardens and house it was strange to think Lord Egerton and Humphry Repton had stood there in 1791 designing and changing Tatton to what we see and know today. A fascinating tour about a very talented man whose signature on the Tatton Red Book is below.

For more information on Repton, see http://thegardenstrust.org/campaigns/humphry-repton-life-work/

Some Cuttings ……

Thank you, Roy, Many of us have now sown the Puya mirabilis seeds that Roy Lancaster left with Anne Harrison. This is a fast-growing terrestrial bromeliad from Bolivia.

The Newsletter Editor will report on the results of the trial in a future issue of the Newsletter and is looking forward to seeing images of the flowers of this plant.

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THEA becomes RHS Affiliated In June, The Horticultural Enthusiasts’ Association became an RHS affiliated society. Amongst the benefits of affiliation that RHS offer are the following:

• free gardening advice from RHS experts.

• competitively priced insurance.

• one free visit a year to an RHS Garden for up to 55 members. We look forward to taking up these opportunities.

An interesting garden blog to sign up for Every Saturday morning The Gardens Trust sends out an email inviting participants to read more about a subject related to gardens and horticulture. This is The Gardens Trust Blog and can be found at https://thegardenstrustblog.wordpress.com/. Subjects are usually of interest for example, see a recent blog about Repton, at https://thegardenstrustblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/19/repton-through-the-window/ .

Dates for your Diary

Another Repton talk - Thursday 1st November at 2.00 in the Main Lecture Hall at Reaseheath If you, like me, are fascinated with Humphry Repton and his Red Books, you will be interested to hear that Kate Harwood, the speaker on our next Study Day, is giving another talk on Repton while she is visiting Cheshire. This has been organised by Cheshire Gardens Trust (CGT) and will also be held at Reaseheath in the same Lecture Hall at 2.00 on Thursday November 1st. The talk is entitled “Repton’s Legacy” and is another aspect of Repton’s life and work.

2019 THEA Study Day Friday, 22nd February 2019 Spring Study Day at Reaseheath. Speakers will be announced in the Winter 2019 Newsletter, due out in January 2019.