The online forum for the Walled Kitchen Gardens Network with all the latest news, events and musings.
Tracy Whitehead would like your help please
Tracy attended our recent forum at Croome Court, this covering letter explains what she needs. . . . Dear Sir/Madam I am currently in the final year of my BSc in Land Management at Moulton College in Northamptonshire. My background is horticulture and garden design and my particular interests are garden history and walled kitchen gardens. As part of my course I am carrying out an independent study looking at the current status of walled kitchen gardens in the UK. I will also be investigating the funding streams that are available for their redevelopment, restoration or re-creation and evaluating the experiences of custodians in securing the future of a… Read more »
Growing Vegetables & Edible Flowers: April 1st 2016
The Land Gardener invite you to a Vegetables & Edible Flowers Workshop with Peter Bauwens Monday 11 April, 2016 from 10am to 3pm Wardington Manor, Banbury OX17 1SW Peter Bauwens is an innovator in the world of organic vegetables and edible flowers. He has over 40 years of experience as a nurseryman in Belgium growing and researching an extraordinary variety of vegetables and edible plants. To find out more about Peter click here. This course is for existing vegetable growers and those who want to further their knowledge of the best varieties of vegetables and edible flowers to grow for ease, increased flavour and a higher nutritional value. £85 including… Read more »
FORUM 2016
This year we’ll take the High Road to Dumfries House in Scotland so please make a note of the date. . . October the 8th and 9th. The Theme is Community Gardening The registration form will be available soon so keep an eye on The Grapevine for more details! Susan, Mike, Lucy, Julian and Theo.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 MUSINGS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 MUSINGS by Maz Gardening Volunteer at Tatton Park Walled Kitchen Garden, Knutsford, Cheshire The first Tuesday of January saw the Tuesday Team walking from the Mansion to Knutsford for a coffee, and then back to the Mansion’s Stables Restaurant for lunch. The weather was cold and the odd shower greeted us on our first working day. Most of the Team were busy cutting and burning brash on the east side of the Italian Garden. The rest were in the Orchard continuing the light remedial winter pruning of the freestanding fruit trees in the Orchard Lawn. At lunchtime the gardener-in-charge of the Kitchen Garden joined the Team so… Read more »
Vacancy at Chelsea Physic Garden
The world famous Chelsea Physic Garden is looking for a Gardener/Volunteer manager. Click on this link for a job description Chelsea Physic Garden Gardener volunteer manager And on this link to download the application form; a-application-form-gardener-volunteer-manager-1-2 Good luck, (I wish I was younger!!!)
Ironwork from Mackenzie and Moncur vinery for sale
The Lady Ryder Memorial Garden on the Bucks /Oxon border has two Mackenzie and Moncur vinehouses each measuring 20ft across by 14ft deep divided by a glass wall. They were built about 1900. Sadly we cannot afford the vast cost of restoring them as the wood and remaining glass is beyond repair. However the iron work and winding gear for the roof lights and front panes are complete and in working order and we are aiming to raise funds towards the restoration of the Garden as a whole by selling this ironwork. We also have a few pieces including winding handles from another long gone apricot and peach house. Viewing… Read more »
Garden Manager
R H S Gardens Hyde Hall 37.5 hours per week (any 5 days in 7) Circa £33,529 per annum Excite your passion for horticulture and come and join the team at the RHS With the RHS investing over £7m at RHS Garden Hyde Hall including a number of new garden features, the opportunity this position offers working in this unique Essex based garden cannot be underestimated. The 365 acre estate currently receives over 240,000 visitors annually with the aim to expand and grow these numbers over the coming years. As part of the garden expansion, we are looking for a new Garden Manager to be responsible for these new features,… Read more »
Walled Garden Available?
Hi, We’re looking to take on and/or restore a walled garden in the south Northumberland area, specifically near Hexham and Allendale. Our aim is to restore it to it’s former glory as part of a project to use horticulture to combat mental illness and social isolation. Could you give us any advice as to how to go about finding one or, indeed, do you know of anything suitable? Many thanks, Sam Coulson and Jane Pryde.
NOVEMBER DECEMBER MUSINGS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 MUSINGS by Maz Gardening Volunteer at Tatton Park Walled Kitchen Garden, Knutsford, Cheshire The two Fig Houses in the Kitchen Garden have now been restored, and are looking good. All the weeds that have accumulated in them during the summer whilst the glasshouses were open to the elements have been removed and winter salads and vegetables have been sown in the beds. The Herb beds in front of the glasshouses are also being weeded and restored, and rearrangements taking place. Gales are expected, so trees in the Parkland were being inspected for likely problems. The Team planted at least 2,000 daffodil bulbs in the woodland where the path… Read more »
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER MUSINGS
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 MUSINGS by Maz Gardening Volunteer at Tatton Park Walled Kitchen Garden, Knutsford, Cheshire Dodging the occasional shower the Tuesday Team was let loose on the apple cordons and espaliers following a brief explanatory tutorial by the Gaffer. The transformation of the trees back to neatness was like a time-lapse film, and was greatly enjoyed by the Team as it was a standing-up job with opportunity for cheery banter, which made a great change from several weeks of being on their knees weeding in the Kitchen Garden. Visitors strolling round the Orchard were fascinated by the intense activity of the happy ‘pruners’ and asked lots of questions In the… Read more »