The Berrington Garden Project

We’re currently fundraising to restore the curved section of the walled garden, which is a rare survivor of Georgian garden design; the only one of its kind soon to be open to the public. From 6 July, you’ll be able to enter the curved garden and see creative temporary planting that seems to ‘take over’ the remaining farm buildings. Subtropical-style plants, including cannas, Japanese bananas, gunneras and pineapple lillies (evidence shows pineapples were once grown here), will create drama alongside produce such as pumpkins, squashes, courgettes, tomatoes and beans, which reflect the area’s historic use as a productive garden.

In May 2019, the rare curved section will come back into the care of the National Trust; for around 100 years, this area has been used as a livestock area by a tenant farmer, the Cawley family. This means that the garden team are incredibly busy preparing their horticultural displays to fill the section. The theme focuses on nature and the gardens taking back over this rare and significant part of Berrington's Walled Garden. Preparations include using hay bales as planters, ensuring we have enough compost, working with partners such as the Westfield School to helping with planting and much more. Will you be joining us on the 6 July to come and see this curved section as it is revealed.

As the Berrington Garden Project continues we are increasingly working with Westfield School students to develop the gardens offer for visitors. During one of their latest visits the students managed to complete a wooden 'stepping-stone' pathway and they installed a willow tunnel in the natural play area. Installations to the gardens such as these are made more achievable with the support the students. By teaching the them a diverse range of gardening techniques such as these, not only do the students learn invaluable skills and develop their own connection to Berrington, but the Gardening Team are able to tackle their ever-growing workload in support of the project.