The last time I went on a Garden Media Guild trip, there was snow on the ground. That was to Belvoir Castle back in February 2020 just before the world turned upside down. This week, there was sunshine as we explored Goldstone Hall and Wollerton Old Hall Garden.
We started our Shropshire tour with the family-run Goldstone Hall hotel, which is an RHS partner garden. The five-acre garden was started in 1978 by the late Helen Ward, mother of the current owner, John Cushing.
The late start to the season meant we were a few weeks early to see the Rose Walk in full bloom but the herbaceous borders in the Walled Garden were full of colour.
These are two tiered borders one stepped behind the other with a narrow grass path between. This gave a depth to the planting, as the path was hidden from view when you stood at the front, but meant access and, therefore, maintenance were easy.
Next to the terrace, a box parterre was given a more modern twist with shades of orange and an informality to the planting.
I loved the way Pilosella aurantiaca was part of the planting. Also known as fox and cubs, this is a wildflower that is considered a weed by many but it has a fabulous colour and is loved by pollinators.
Further into the garden, thyme is used as a carpet, creating a mass of fragrant colour. More herbs are found in the herb walk while a highly organised kitchen garden – a lot of crops were inside a huge fruit cage – provided the ingredients for our extremely good lunch.
The laburnum arch was looking really good, framing the view to the thyme carpet, and with alliums adding to the display.
The standout feature though was the lupins, part of the cutting garden and quite simply the biggest I’ve ever seen outside of a Chelsea Flower Show display.
After lunch, we headed for the nearby Wollerton Old Hall Garden. The four acres have been developed by Lesley and John Jenkins since they bought Lesley’s former childhood home back in 1983.
The style here is more formal than at Goldstone Hall, something that John explained was influenced by the 16th century hall. The garden is laid out geometrically with hedges and paths creating smaller rooms, allowing for different planting styles.
In places, plants are allowed to soften this rigid framework, while other areas are kept clipped and formal. As you move through the garden, so it becomes more naturalistic before ending in a wilder area of shrubs and trees.
These poppies had a beautiful faded beauty with their soft colour and crumpled petals.
The hot borders at Wollerton Old Hall Garden were just getting into their stride but still provided a contrast to earlier garden rooms.
Seats nestled among plants gave places to sit and admire what has been achieved, and there was plenty to admire. Not least the roses on the house (pictured top) and the David Austin rose that’s named for the garden.
Both Goldstone Hall and Wollerton Old Hall Garden are open to the public, including National Garden Scheme open days. More information is available on the websites: Goldstone Hall Hotel and Wollerton Old Hall Garden.
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I left old England when Abbey Life ruined my life. Here is rural Latvia i have built a house and acres of gardens in my English corner of the world. Arts and Craft themed rooms in set of 6 .Hedged with roses and some with Thuja trees and some in Hornbeam . What took me over 12 years to build is now starting to conform to my plan . Japanese bridge over waterlily canal . English rose gardens leas on to woodland walk and into Pergola to the Edwardian yew walk . The water fountain garden the dial court and the tall iron peacock tail gates held by 400year old bricks that once owned by writer Muinhousen who lived just a mile way from my estate . On top i have stone finials each side on two gate elsewhere in garden too .The main gate is 8ffoot tall the postern gate is single ornate in the Allee rear of Folly room house i built with stained glass windows so to dine and enjoy life when resting for work. No rates no water rates no taxes on estates here . One can live on 400 euro a month like a king. I have it great here .Only drawer back is winter can be cruel some years .My walled garden to veg growing lead to orchard of apple and pear and Blue berry hedges . The ancient lanes lined with trees and tall hedges open up to vistas across land of miles reaching out to forest and lakes . Here in back water of time nothing really rushes at any thing.In summer it is like England 500 years ago .Less than million peoples live in land size of Scotland that varies from flat farm land forested glades and lakes into white sand Riga bay with its cobalt sea and then down into the ancient city of Riga 60 miles away.Small German Saxon wooden housed towns now have up market supermarkets where most things can be bought half price of UK .Meat is locally.Even Turkey and Boar meat. Only the British or American import is higher in price . Build of house was all British brick and material so cost same as home to construct .Gardens black smith price for gates was about a third of price in Uk using Russian metal very cheap and best metal yet .All else i built even greenhouse .Needs to be seen to be believed really