"Wildland" farming at Lowther Castle Estate
Thanks to Jim Bliss, Deputy Estate Manager at Lowther Castle, for an interesting talk about the work they are doing on the home farm, to try farming with a sustainable approach. Sheep have been replaced with English longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, bee hives and 6 beavers, and within 3 years the increase in birds, insects, flora and fauna has been remarkable. Tree planting and hay meadows are capturing carbon. New channels in the river help reduce flooding downstream, and create valuable freshwater pockets which this year attracted 2 curlews.
Jim was open about the scale of public and grant funding they have been awarded to achieve this, and acknowledged it wouldn't necessarily be the right model for fertile land that is good for food production. He concluded that as all food production relies on a balanced eco system, if some land owners can increase biodiversity, it is a benefit to everyone.
A brave case to make in a room of sheep farmers and those of us who have grown up amongst grazed fells.
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk
www.edenriverstrust.org.uk
www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/rewilding-projects/lowther-estate
https://www.ullswaterheritage.org
https://lowthercastle.org/wilding/lowther-estate/
Jim was open about the scale of public and grant funding they have been awarded to achieve this, and acknowledged it wouldn't necessarily be the right model for fertile land that is good for food production. He concluded that as all food production relies on a balanced eco system, if some land owners can increase biodiversity, it is a benefit to everyone.
A brave case to make in a room of sheep farmers and those of us who have grown up amongst grazed fells.
www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk
www.edenriverstrust.org.uk
www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/rewilding-projects/lowther-estate
https://www.ullswaterheritage.org
https://lowthercastle.org/wilding/lowther-estate/
Time for a break
Dug out my old oil paints - only seem to have blues, whites and browns so just as well it's winter
And a linocut of some chilly sheep I did for this year's Christmas Card.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Exhibition by Lazonby artist David Boyd
My favourites from his winter show. See www.drydenboydartist.co.uk for more
Gowbarrow Fell by David Boyd
Knipe Scar by David Boyd
Skilled craftwork
I love designing gardens but none of it would come together without the many talented, local people I work alongside. Here are just a few examples of their excellent skills bringing the designs to life.
Elegant water feature built by Wildroof Landscapes and photographed by Rachael de la Mare
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Stone wall seat beautifully built by DSR Landscapes and photographed by Rachael de la Mare
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Complicated tiers of sleepers and tightly curved lawn so neatly constructed by Chapelow Landscapes
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Wiltshire wheatfields
The southern countryside parched golden during this summer's heatwave. Such a change from the green fields at home.
Art in the gallery & garden at Hauser & Wirth
Work of two creative giants in one place, so much to see and take in. Excellent cafe too.
Henry Moore sculpture
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Piet Oudolf planting
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drifts and drifts of perennials
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Visit to Bodnant Gardens
A chilly spring visit to the fabulous gardens at Bodnant in Wales. The winter gardens were still glowing with colour, the rhododendrons and massive magnolias stunning, but the best thing was the daffodils.
Great Print Exhibition 5
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The 2019 Great Print Exhibition has opened at Rheged. The new gallery space looks great, and I particularly admired the prints by Sara Lee. Cold, bleak landscapes with skies looking full of snow, just as the weather has turned and there is snow on the fells above Ullswater.
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Cumbria Gardens Trust
Fascinating talk to the Cumbria Gardens Trust AGM by Peter Hughes, on the history of the house and garden at High Moss, Keswick, designed by little known Arts & Crafts architect William Henry Ward.
Sketches of Derwentwater by Rob Miller, artist in residence at Lingholm
Plant collecting
Liz (Buzy Lizzie) suggested a "Field Trip" in the name of research to Dumfries and Galloway. Excellent day out, we visited Elizabeth Macgregor's wonderful nursery and garden. Rows and rows of violas and perennials all looking so tempting we came back with a car bootful. Her walled garden was full of blossom from Deutzia, clematis and Cornus Chinensis in full swing. Stopped off at Cally Gardens (pics below) on the way past, a slightly wilder feel but just as interesting.
Rock, Water and Woodland Garden |
Joined the Cumbria Gardens Trust for a visit to Deer Rudding, an extensive hillside garden skillfully and meticulously maintained by Lynne Carruthers. Enjoyed exploring the green land and meadow paths where she is getting Yellow Rattle, Ox Eye Daisies and Cowslips to creep through the long grass.
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Shaking off the winter snow...
The snowdrops in my garden did so well this February I even felt I could bring some inside. The hellebores are now going strong which is just as well as the daffodils are taking their time.
On a visit to Somerset last week spring was in full swing, with cherry blossom, daffodils, grape hyacinth, aubretia and little primula everywhere. Still snow on the fells here!
On a visit to Somerset last week spring was in full swing, with cherry blossom, daffodils, grape hyacinth, aubretia and little primula everywhere. Still snow on the fells here!
Design for a private garden in Lancashire, by Adam Frost
Enjoyed an entertaining talk by designer Adam Frost at Holehird last week. He was honest and open about the peaks and troughs of his life, where he has found inspiration and how he has arrived at the successful point of winning 7 gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show.
New RHS Garden in the North WestTom Stuart Smith's beautiful design for the "walled garden" - his part of the new RHS Bridgewater in Salford.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater |
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In an Autumnal mood
Just been introduced to the work of Ellie Davies, who does these hauntingly beautiful images of trees and Autumn. Her work "explores the relationship between landscape and the individual". I love the way they are part real and part magical and trigger memories and emotions of being in deep woods surrounded by towering trees.
http://elliedavies.co.uk/
http://elliedavies.co.uk/
Smoke and Mirrors I by Ellie Davies
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Stars by Ellie Davies
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C-Art Cumbria's Visual Arts Festival.
Exploring local artists' studios and gardens during September's C-Art Festival
Anywhere you go in Cumbria at the moment you can’t help noticing mysterious yellow signs at unexpected places. They indicate an artist’s studio or exhibition space for C-Art, the county wide contemporary visual arts festival. It’s a great chance to see artists’ work, and I can’t deny it be a bit nosey, so, when I should have been doing something else, I followed two such intriguing signs this weekend, to Hadyn Morris and James Reynolds’ studios, in Tirril. Both were a total delight and as luck would have it, revealed amazing, extensive gardens tucked away which I was kindly invited to explore.
Hadyn Morris’s studio is filled with bright and lively paintings reflecting the surrounding landscape, but my eye was drawn to the sketch books, which displayed a different, more reflective mood often in watercolour and ink
Hadyn Morris’s studio is filled with bright and lively paintings reflecting the surrounding landscape, but my eye was drawn to the sketch books, which displayed a different, more reflective mood often in watercolour and ink
His wife Judith showed me round their garden, following grass paths which lead you through fully stocked herbaceous borders, heavily laden fruit trees, and rampant climbers. Then surprisingly through a hidden gate to a huge kitchen garden where even peaches and lemons thrive in the greenhouse. You would never know it was there, a real secret garden.
Across the road James Reynolds’s studio is also a treasure trove. I admired his imaginative sculptures of beautifully hewn wood, stone and silver, but just as exciting was discovering the extensive garden. Again, the success lies in the unexpected; the visitor has no idea where the path will lead. New views reveal themselves as you follow the lawn through trees planted over 10 years ago, to come across witty puns carved in stone, land art and sculptures standing in circles of trees.
www.welliesandwine.co.uk/cumbrias-c-art/🎂
Across the road James Reynolds’s studio is also a treasure trove. I admired his imaginative sculptures of beautifully hewn wood, stone and silver, but just as exciting was discovering the extensive garden. Again, the success lies in the unexpected; the visitor has no idea where the path will lead. New views reveal themselves as you follow the lawn through trees planted over 10 years ago, to come across witty puns carved in stone, land art and sculptures standing in circles of trees.
www.welliesandwine.co.uk/cumbrias-c-art/🎂
NGS open gardens
My latest review of a lovely hidden garden, Chapelside in Mungrisedale. Well worth a visit. Check the www.ngs.org.uk website for opening times
www.welliesandwine.co.uk/peaceful-garden-escape/
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A nice article about we garden designers in the North :-) Liz and I often work together and the design pictured below was one we did together.
Chelsea Flower Show 2017 |
What was in at Chelsea this year? That old favourite...Salvia nemerosa Caradonna...
Salvia 'Caradonna' and Geum 'Totally Tangerine'
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Salvia Caradonna and Verbascums, white alliums and Euphorbia
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Salvia Caradonna and cirsium and alchemilla mollis
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also, chunky stone or concrete edges hovering over water
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also, corten steel still popular
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and plenty of 'plank' paving
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In the Floral Marquee some fantastic displays from the nurseries. I particularly loved the Irises and Verbascums at Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, came home keen to get some more varieties going in my garden.
Springing into Life |
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"Springing into life" is something I wrote about a recent visit to Dalemain Garden for the fabulous and entertaining Wellies and Wine Blog...
Tree, George Shaw
Planning an afternoon off next week to go and see the George Shaw exhibition which is currently at Abbot Hall Art Gallery in Kendal. So pleased when I saw his show was coming north. More to follow...
Puddles Wasdale Head, by Mark Pearce
It was such a freezing, sleety day yesterday I couldn't work outside, it felt cold at my desk, so I went to Rheged to see The Great Print Exhibition. It was excellent, so refreshing and light after this week of stormy weather. With a coffee in the cafe afterwards, definitely a good way to combat the January blues. And warm up! I really liked the prints by Mark Pearce, this is one of his paintings from his website. Exactly sums up the colours of the puddles, tracks, walls and fells which are my world these days.
Lowther Castle Gardens C18th
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Lowther Castle Gardens concept plan by Dan Pearson C21st
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Being a huge fan of Garden Designer Dan Pearson, I was very excited to learn that he had been commissioned to do a design for the restoration of the gardens at Lowther Castle. Just round the corner from me! We go every few weeks with the kids ( they love the tree swings, the play area with its great wooden fortress, and the cafe obviously) and so it has been really interesting seeing the concept plan put into action. The wildflower meadows, the modern courtyard planting and the gradual uncovering of mossy remains of ancient rose gardens and the like give the place a sense of adventure and discovery. Martin Ogle, the head Gardener, and his team of volunteers are doing a fantastic job.
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Askham Hall Gardens - lovely mix of formal and wild
