Bringing the past into the future
By the time the National Trust took over Nunnington Hall, the Iris Garden had become overgrown and difficult to identify. In 1989 it was restored to something of its former appearance.
The stone paths were uncovered and re-laid, a central urn similar to the one seen in old photos was added, and the beds were planted with irises known to be popular during the original era – primarily dwarf and tall bearded.
Keeping up the maintenance of the iris garden had become more difficult in recent years and the stone paving was worn and uneven. Many of the hedges and trees had outgrown the garden, and the irises weren't performing as well as they used to.
Why redesign the Iris Garden?
The Iris Garden is a much-loved area of the garden, however it looked tired and had a neglected appearance even after periods of intense maintenance. The irises offered a very short season of display, there was limited seating, and the paths were worn and uneven. The single path entrance and exit points resulted in visitors passing by, barely pausing for a look.
Thanks to the generous gift from the Estate of Mrs Gertrude Mary Looi, we had an opportunity to address the situation and reimagine this space with a more modern and innovative design, whilst still retaining historical integrity and influences from previous owners and past designs.
The new design needed to delight visitors with an invitation to engage and explore, improve accessibility, offer more seating, and adapt to changing environmental and climate conditions. It needed to offer a beautiful garden full of horticultural interest for everyone to enjoy throughout the seasons.
What do we want to achieve?
A showcase of climate-positive gardening ideas
Nunnington Hall is one of the Trust’s flagship organic gardens, run in harmony with nature for over 22 years. We can now build on this with the use of innovative sustainable garden design practices. The new design will consider the impact of our choices with an aim to:
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Reuse existing materials
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Select plants that work with a changing climate and provide food and habitat for wildlife
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Source UK-grown peat-free plants from suppliers who meet our plant biosecurity requirements (Plant Health certified)
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Harvest rainwater to top up pond level during months of low rainfall
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Ensure ongoing garden maintenance is pollution-free through use of electric machinery
A better experience for everyone
Two new entry points have been added to encourage visitors to explore the garden. Crumbling paths were replaced with smooth surfaces, and more seating has been added so visitors can spend longer relaxing in this space. A bold selection of plants will provide interest all year round, with something new to see each visit.
A ‘garden gallery’
Nunnington Hall works with artists from around the UK to host a wide range of exhibitions. This concept will be extended into the Iris Garden with a series of sculpture plinths for future displays.
