The Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds project at Berrington Hall

We have teamed up with the creative minds of the Hereford College of Arts to see how the students engage with the gardens and use different artist techniques to represent it in their new exhibition 'Patina'. You can see this series of art pieces all the summer, weaved throughout the gardens and each with their own hidden meaning. This partnership has been formed as part of the Walled Garden and Pleasure Ground Restoration Project. We are hoping that partnerships such as this will encourage people from every part of the community to feel in touch with Berrington throughout the project, and help us keep it here for ever, for everyone.

A large part of the Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds Project is focused on looking at new ways that we can use this space to benefit the local community. We are constantly looking for new ways of doing this. On the 24 May we were able to do this whilst we worked in partnership with ‘Orchard Art’. Orchard Art is a project managed by a community partner, the Brightspace Foundation. It’s aim is to enable people with learning disabilities to spend quality time in orchards, in the company of professional artists, and showcasing the value of orchards to the wider community. David Marshall, Associate of the Brightspace Foundation and Orchard Art, approached us to do something in the ‘LOOK!’ pavilion, which is situated in the heart of the orchard. The Project Manager, Ellie Jones, had already spoken to David about our ambitions to trial working with community partners and using the site in a more participatory way. Dave went back to the students of Barrs Court School and asked the students what they wanted to do. Their response? ‘A disco in the pineapple!’. The event was a huge success, with positive feedback received from the students such as, "It was the best day ever". By working with the local community in ways such as this, we are hoping that this project won’t be just a normal restoration project, but an opportunity for us to help others connect with Berrington in a new and unique way.

Berrington is now proud to feature in Jules Hudson’s latest book, 'Walled Gardens'. This is based on his visit in 2017, as part of his research for the book. Hudson found a focal point for writing about Berrington in our ‘Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds Restoration Project’. He recognised the importance of both the origin of the walled garden, and the project itself to ensure the survival of this garden. He includes details about the intriguing history of the walled garden, the importance of ‘Capability’ Brown to our past and the project’s aims such as the restoring of the unique wall. It is this interest and publicity about the project that demonstrates to the team the importance of this cause and the need to continue with their efforts to make the project aims a reality.