The cottage garden at The Firs Elgar's birthplace

Katherine Alker, Garden and Outdoors Manager, South Worcestershire Katherine Alker Garden and Outdoors Manager, South Worcestershire

The garden at the Elgar’s birthplace is planted in the classic cottage garden style.

After opening the Birthplace to the public in the 1930s, Carice had the garden redesigned, using a painting by John Chessell Buckler as her inspiration. 

Painted in 1856 only a year before Edward Elgar was born in the cottage, the painting shows the garden with an arch, standard roses near the house and two central paths all of which are still here today.

The cottage garden with spring flowers
image of the cottage garden in spring
The cottage garden with spring flowers

Throughout the year the garden offers a place to sit, reflect and admire the planting; snowdrops, tulips, peonies, roses, and much more.  

Moved here in the 1980s is Elgar's summer house, originally in the garden of his last home 'Marl Bank'.  Nearby is Jemma Pearson's sculpture of Elgar, relaxing and enjoying the uninterrupted view of the Malvern Hills.

Statue of Sir Edward Elgar gazing out to the Malvern Hills
Statue of Sir Edward Elgar sitting on a bench in his garden
Statue of Sir Edward Elgar gazing out to the Malvern Hills

This scuplture was created by artist and sculptor, Jemma Pearson.  Please have a look at our video clip to hear her describe the process she went through in creating this scuplture.

Spring 2018 Update

The garden is being whipped into shape by new part-time gardener Dawne. She and the volunteers have been busy cutting the lawns, edging the beds, weeding and planting. 

The lavenders are putting on lots of new growth and we look forward to their fragrance filling the outdoor seating at the tearoom, as well as the cottage garden. The honeysuckle which is climbing over the metal archway in the cottage garden will be flowering in early summer, and the roses are showing the benefit of having had a good mulch of muck over the winter months and will be blooming in the coming months.

An Arthur Bell rose outside the cottage
a yellow arthur bell rose outside the cottage
An Arthur Bell rose outside the cottage

Enjoy the bright colourful borders as you take a break on one of the benches in the cottage garden, and take in the relaxing atmosphere there. 

The orchard blossom looked wonderful this year and the trees are now providing some welcome shade for the picnic benches. We look forward to another good harvest of apples and pears in the Autumn – why not come along to our juicing day on Sunday 7th October?

The garden in late spring
late spring garden at the firs
The garden in late spring