Before our October Meeting, Jacky presented the engraved salvers and medal. The silver salver for nominating own best 10 entries in the show went to Edward Callaway; salver for highest gross score across categories went to Sandie Lewis; The club entry award for baking, floristry and handicraft on the theme of ‘village life’ went to Edington & District Gardening Club.
We were then treated to an excellent presentation by Claire Greenslade, Head Gardener at Hestercombe in Somerset, which is managed by a charitable trust. Claire leads 6 gardeners who manage 100 acres, 42 of which are gardens rather than landscape. We saw slides of the Lutyens/Jekyll Edwardian garden as well as the Victorian garden and the Georgian landscape, all of which were developed by the Portman family (of Portman Building Society fame) as it was formerly their summer home.
Very large projects have been undertaken in recent years, with more to follow, to renovate and re-imagine some of the buildings from the original garden. Stone has been quarried from their own land to rebuild the octagonal summerhouse, and there is a lot more to do. Planning permission is currently being sought to make the old laundries into studio space and three buildings in the landscape garden are still to be rebuilt. They would also like to reinstate and restore the pond garden.
Whilst not as stately and grand, it is not surprising that the restored buildings at Hestercombe are reminiscent of Stourhead, since the two landowners who developed the respective gardens were close friends.
Planting there is on a grand scale, with large displays of perenniels and annuals needed in constant supply and so the gardeners are kept busy year-round. We plan to visit them, hopefully in the 2018/19 season, to admire the results first-hand.
If you would like to come along to gardening club, or on one of our trips as a visitor or as a new member, you will be made very welcome. We usually meet on the first Thursday of the month in Edington Parish Hall at 7.30 pm. On 2nd November we will hear from Thomas Stone about the pruning and underplanting of roses. Hope to see you there.
Sandie Lewis
Secretary Tel: 01380 830722