Grade I listed landscape gets ‘garden for the future' in face of climate change
The National Trust said the new planting, designed by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winning designer Joe Perkins, would follow in the tradition of Sheffield Park and Garden's history as a place of new landscape design and experimental planting.
The new garden sits within the wider Grade I listed landscape at Sheffield Park and Garden (National Trust Images/James Dobson/PA)
The new garden for the future occupies a half-an-acre corner previously used for propagation of plants, with planting from around the world to showcase to visitors how plants can adapt to different environments.
It will also support succession planting plans and future garden developments, the National Trust said as it grapples with the impacts of climate change such as hotter, drier summers and more extreme weather events on its gardens.
The trust said significant specimens in the collection at Sheffield Park have suffered with extremes in temperature and rainfall in recent years, and some are nearing the end of their natural life.
The new site harks back to Arthur Gilstrap Soames who indulged his passion for horticulture in the 120-acre garden more than a century ago with innovate and bold colour schemes, new plant hybrids and experimental planting of species from around the world.
The new garden sits within the wider Grade I listed landscape at Sheffield Park and Garden (National Trust Images/James Dobson/PA)
Head gardener Jodie Hilton said: 'The new garden provides an opportunity to engage visitors with a different style of planting, adapted to a different climate and planting environment, than they might see in the rest of the landscape at Sheffield Park, while taking inspiration from the garden surrounding it.
'We hope visitors will take a moment to pause and reflect in nature, in a corner of the landscape that was often overlooked until now.'
The new garden includes a dry exotic area planted mostly in raised beds to allow the use of species from sub-alpine habitats of parts of Tasmania, New Zealand, central and southern Chile and southern Argentina.
A second area focuses more on southern hemisphere temperate forest, inspired by the mid-altitude hill forests of central Chile and Argentina, with many species originating from the 'Gondwanan' supercontinent which once linked Australasia with South America, Africa, India and Antarctica.
And a final area focuses on temperate woodland in a space mostly under the existing tree canopy, with ground covering ferns, shade-tolerant grasses and perennial forget-me-not, along with woodland shrubs such as azalea, the trust said.
Once the plants are established, the team behind the garden will begin to test tolerance to drought and extreme temperatures, with planting in raised beds enabling the testing of exotic species and resilience to drier soils.
Mr Perkins said resilience was a 'core principle' of the planting scheme.
'Early on, we identified the need for plants which can tolerate both extended periods of drought, and potentially heat, as well as cold winter temperatures.
'We've created different planting habitats which will allow the team to explore plants from around the world that could be better adapted to future conditions.
'From drier raised beds to shadier, wetter woodland planting, we're continuing with Arthur Soames' experimental approach as we tackle the challenges and opportunities that climate change is predicted to bring us,' he said.
The garden will test out the resilience of plants to different conditions (National Trust Images/James Dobson/PA)
Sheila Das, National Trust head of gardens and parks, said: 'The team at Sheffield Park are bringing huge energy to an already stunning landscape.
'Our gardens never sit still so, to keep enjoying the garden's beauty into the future, we must constantly experiment.
She added: 'In the wider garden, the team are looking into how the planting can be adapted for the future and in the garden for the future, visitors can enjoy a brand-new concept that sits well in the landscape but brings something new and inspiring.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Fears over future of Cockermouth's Wordsworth House
Fears have been raised over the future of the house where the celebrated Romantic poet William Wordsworth was National Trust, which owns Wordsworth House in Cockermouth, Cumbria, said the attraction was underused and although not being closed permanently, it was consulting on a "new, sustainable model", which would focus more on its Bertram, a volunteer at the house, said she was "really disappointed" and feared it could have an impact on the town's economy, as it was "a major draw".The National Trust said if Wordsworth House remained open as a "pay-for-entry experience" it would continue to lose "significant amounts" of money. Mrs Bertram said the National Trust told volunteers its plans would include a reduction in opening days, the potential for visits to only take place in the garden and proposed staff National Trust declined to confirm it was proposing redundancies at Wordsworth House, but said earlier this month it had announced it would look to cut 6% of jobs across its organisation nation-wide, in a bid to save £26m. 'For everyone, for ever' Mrs Bertram, who had worked at Wordsworth House for six years after a career in the NHS, before becoming a volunteer, said she feared changes would lead to the site's closure."By closing the house the history will have gone from that plot of land and we will not be able to spread the word that Cockermouth was the starting point for the Poet Laureate," the 73-year-old said."It's very sad and I think it will impact on the rest of the town because people just won't come." Joe Murray, co-chair of Cockermouth and District Chamber of Trade, said Wordsworth House was one of the town's main attractions, driving footfall to businesses."We want to work in partnership with [the National Trust] and other organisations, to ensure it remains open to all, at the heart of our town," he added the community had been responsible for saving the building from demolition in 1937, when there were plans to turn the site into a bus station."Today, the Wordsworth House website says the trust wants it 'to be looked after for everyone, for ever'. That's exactly what must happen." The spokesperson for the National Trust said: "Our proposals aim to increase access, share the Wordsworth story more widely, and explore new uses for the space."They added there would be a new model in place by 2027, following a consultation with the community and was born in the Georgian building in the heart of Cockermouth in poems such as The Prelude, the poet reminisces about his childhood in the Mount, in Ambleside, where Wordsworth lived from 1813 until his death in 1850, was recently put up for sale, with descendant Christopher Wordsworth saying it was "harder and harder" to manage the Lake District property from his home in London. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Paintings celebrate 800 years of Britain's ‘first environmental laws'
An exhibition commemorating eight centuries of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest is opening at the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, London. As part of the exhibition, Dan Llywelyn Hall, the youngest artist to paint a portrait of the late Queen, has been commissioned to produce four pictures depicting trees across Great Britain. All the trees included in the work, entitled the Totems to the Charter, were alive at the time the Charter of the Forest was signed. It includes one tree said to have witnessed the signing of the first Magna Carta in 1215. The Magna Carta Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey (Alamy/PA) The Charter of the Forest, which Mr Llywelyn Hall described as the 'first bit of environmental legislation,' was a crucial appendix to Magna Carta, which ultimately paved the way for our right to access woodland. The Magna Carta was republished several times, with the final version created in February 1225, issued with a version of the Charter. Some elements of the forest laws remained in force until the 1970s. One of Mr Llywelyn Hall's pictures depicts the Ankerwycke Yew, an ancient tree close to the ruins of St Mary's Priory in Surrey, which is believed to be 1,400 to 2,500 years old. While the signing of the original Magna Carta in 1215 is largely believed to have taken place in nearby Runnymede, the National Trust has said that some people believe the sealing actually took place by the tree. How much history has the Ankerwycke Yew seen? It's thought that King John signed the Magna Carta beneath its branches and King Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn there. Thought to be at least 2,000 years old, it continues to thrive. #FactFriday — The Tree Council (@TheTreeCouncil) August 6, 2021 The yew is also said to be one of the places where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn. Mr Llywelyn Hall has also captured the Caledonian Forest Pines of Scotland, which are descended from the first pines in the country, which arrived around 7,000BC. The Glen Loyne Pine depicted is one of the oldest that remains and a veteran of its species. The artist has also painted Curley Oak of the Wentwood Forest in Wales, which is more than 1,000 years old and the oldest Oak in that country. Mr Llywelyn Hall described the oak as sitting squat, nestled in a dense pine forest and 'oozing with atmosphere and an otherworldly presence'. The artist's final picture is of Beech trees near the Lost Pond in Epping Forest, some of the oldest in the world of the species. If you 'find' Lost Pond in #EppingForest you can also visit this incredible coppard beech tree, located nearby. This special tree is believed to be the oldest tree in this unique, ancient woodland. 💚🌳 — Epping Forest (@CoLEppingForest) June 13, 2021 He described the 'vast sprawl' of the Lost Pond Beech as depicted as an 'ominous guardian'. Mr Llywelyn Hall said: 'The Totems to the Charter are the silent witnesses; the ancient veteran trees that were around at the time of the signing, 800 years ago. 'The Charter of the Forest is the first bit of environmental legislation that ultimately paved the way for our rights of way and access to our cherished ancient woodland. 'These rare, silent witnesses are largely the accidental survivors in dense forests; embodying history myth and legend; not to mention extraordinary eco-systems of their own. 'They deserve more reverence and protection than any man made structure.' The paintings, which go on display from July 25 to September 19, will be sold to raise funds for the Society of Antiquaries library and collection as well as the charities Trees for Life and Trees for Cities. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of rewilding charity Trees for Life, said Totems celebrated a landmark charter which recognised 'the essential relationship between humanity and woodlands'. 'We are delighted that this exhibition will bring more attention to our native woodlands and the vital role they play in supporting nature and people,' he said. During the reign of King John, who signed the first Magna Carta of 1215, large swathes of England were designated royal forest and set aside solely for the king's use. A piece of the final version of the Magna Carta created in February 1225 (PA) The Charter of the Forest charter granted rights to land, food and fuel to a wide cross-section of English society, from barons to commoners. While Magna Carta and the charter were English documents, chapters did deal with grievances with Welsh rulers and the King of Scotland. It is believed to be the first document in which English and Welsh law appear together and shows the Welsh, Scots and English sharing political ideas and procedures.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Paintings celebrate 800 years of Britain's ‘first environmental laws'
An exhibition commemorating eight centuries of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest is opening at the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, London. As part of the exhibition, Dan Llywelyn Hall, the youngest artist to paint a portrait of the late Queen, has been commissioned to produce four pictures depicting trees across Great Britain. All the trees included in the work, entitled the Totems to the Charter, were alive at the time the Charter of the Forest was signed. It includes one tree said to have witnessed the signing of the first Magna Carta in 1215. The Charter of the Forest, which Mr Llywelyn Hall described as the 'first bit of environmental legislation,' was a crucial appendix to Magna Carta, which ultimately paved the way for our right to access woodland. The Magna Carta was republished several times, with the final version created in February 1225, issued with a version of the Charter. Some elements of the forest laws remained in force until the 1970s. One of Mr Llywelyn Hall's pictures depicts the Ankerwycke Yew, an ancient tree close to the ruins of St Mary's Priory in Surrey, which is believed to be 1,400 to 2,500 years old. While the signing of the original Magna Carta in 1215 is largely believed to have taken place in nearby Runnymede, the National Trust has said that some people believe the sealing actually took place by the tree. How much history has the Ankerwycke Yew seen? It's thought that King John signed the Magna Carta beneath its branches and King Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn there. Thought to be at least 2,000 years old, it continues to thrive. #FactFriday — The Tree Council (@TheTreeCouncil) August 6, 2021 The yew is also said to be one of the places where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn. Mr Llywelyn Hall has also captured the Caledonian Forest Pines of Scotland, which are descended from the first pines in the country, which arrived around 7,000BC. The Glen Loyne Pine depicted is one of the oldest that remains and a veteran of its species. The artist has also painted Curley Oak of the Wentwood Forest in Wales, which is more than 1,000 years old and the oldest Oak in that country. Mr Llywelyn Hall described the oak as sitting squat, nestled in a dense pine forest and 'oozing with atmosphere and an otherworldly presence'. The artist's final picture is of Beech trees near the Lost Pond in Epping Forest, some of the oldest in the world of the species. If you 'find' Lost Pond in #EppingForest you can also visit this incredible coppard beech tree, located nearby. This special tree is believed to be the oldest tree in this unique, ancient woodland. 💚🌳 — Epping Forest (@CoLEppingForest) June 13, 2021 He described the 'vast sprawl' of the Lost Pond Beech as depicted as an 'ominous guardian'. Mr Llywelyn Hall said: 'The Totems to the Charter are the silent witnesses; the ancient veteran trees that were around at the time of the signing, 800 years ago. 'The Charter of the Forest is the first bit of environmental legislation that ultimately paved the way for our rights of way and access to our cherished ancient woodland. 'These rare, silent witnesses are largely the accidental survivors in dense forests; embodying history myth and legend; not to mention extraordinary eco-systems of their own. 'They deserve more reverence and protection than any man made structure.' The paintings, which go on display from July 25 to September 19, will be sold to raise funds for the Society of Antiquaries library and collection as well as the charities Trees for Life and Trees for Cities. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of rewilding charity Trees for Life, said Totems celebrated a landmark charter which recognised 'the essential relationship between humanity and woodlands'. 'We are delighted that this exhibition will bring more attention to our native woodlands and the vital role they play in supporting nature and people,' he said. During the reign of King John, who signed the first Magna Carta of 1215, large swathes of England were designated royal forest and set aside solely for the king's use. The Charter of the Forest charter granted rights to land, food and fuel to a wide cross-section of English society, from barons to commoners. While Magna Carta and the charter were English documents, chapters did deal with grievances with Welsh rulers and the King of Scotland. It is believed to be the first document in which English and Welsh law appear together and shows the Welsh, Scots and English sharing political ideas and procedures.
