Dear friends, now we are in that quiet time between festivals and celebrations, it seems a good moment to thank the many people involved with the Network for their ongoing support during 2025. We hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and are now looking forwards to a productive, happy and healthy New Year.
We have huge thanks to send again to our wonderful hosts in Scotland who made the annual Forum such a brilliant success this year – at Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Zara and Angus Gordon Lennox and their teams in the gardens, hosting the talks and a delicious lunch. Chris Wardle and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), with their highly skilled garden teams at Fyvie Castle, Pitmeddon and Castle Fraser, then at the Mayen Estate, Bethany Cheyne and her family, for our final relaxed evening where we unwound with more great food and as always, conversation. More thanks also to our speakers Zara, Nick Dunn VMH, Maggie Tran and Chris Wardle, who gave such inspiring talks, sharing knowledge and very different experiences – garden restoration, training fruit trees, bringing productive gardens to life in the Summer Isles and managing so many different walled gardens under the NTS. It would be great to hit replay to listen to them over and over again! There will be more to read about the whole event on the events and training page.
Forum 2026 – save the date 9 & 10 October
We are now looking forwards to 2026 and to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Walled Kitchen Gardens Network, so we are delighted to announce the Forum for 2026 will be held at Holkham Hall in Norfolk, on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October 2026 – booking will open early in February, with speakers confirmed during the months ahead.
The Walled Kitchen Gardens Network, began in 2001 after the first Forum was held at Hellens in Herefordshire and Susan and Fiona decided to set up an online Grapevine. The Network has become an important part in the conservation, recognition and future of walled kitchen gardens, with the annual Forum demonstrating so well the importance of contact and communication between people and gardens. We hope you will be able to join us to celebrate the 25th Anniversary, at Holkham Hall in October!
Susan Campbell’s archive and working library
We were really pleased hear just before Christmas, that the plans at Hestercombe Trust to hold Susan’s archive is now underway. A dedicated room has been prepared at Hestercombe House, and details for access to her archive and working library for the study of walled kitchen gardens will be made available in the new year. Look out for updates on the Grapevine.
The European Symposium for the conservation of historic fruit and kitchen gardens
A new series of online talks begins on Thursday March 12, at 4pm (UK time), with a presentation from Yvan Thé, the new head gardener of the Potager du Roi at Versailles.
See you in 2026! All our very best wishes from the team – Lucy, Mike, Sarah and Jim, Theo and Julian