Dear Friends
The formal gardens were again wonderfully presented and maintained during 2010 and my grateful thanks as always go to our wonderful volunteers, Janet and David Harley in the Sunk Garden, Rosaleen Wilkinson in the Herbaceous Borders and Herb Garden and Ian, Ann and Jonathan Southwell in the more recent North Terrace Borders.
The work within the arboretum and orchard is now really moving these areas forward and thanks must go to Ian Southwell and his valued band of volunteers who have worked even harder in 2010 to clear previously overgrown areas. It is so pleasing to see the arboretum really opening up to allow others to appreciate its true splendour. I know that Ian would like to complete the project to coincide with the centenary of its planting by Lord Swaythling in 1912 … so watch this space!
Matt Hunt, who manages the grounds of Townhill Park House, must, as always, receive a special mention for the tremendous amount of work he undertakes within the grounds. The many positive comments I receive about the grounds are a testament to their efforts.
My thanks also go to all other very valuable members of the committee and in particular to Jacky Searle and Adrienne Harris who have added so much to help the publicity and fund raising efforts at our open days.
Finally, our open days would not be the same without the teas and wonderful cakes made and served by Sue Field and Michelle Morrissey so grateful thanks again go to them. I am sure everyone would agree that Sue’s cakes are a major attraction!
I do hope that all members will renew their membership as this will help with the continued development of the wonderful Gertrude Jekyll gardens and other emerging areas.
Next year, 2012, is an important year as it is the centenary of the Gertrude Jekyll gardens and Arboretum and I hope that friends and visitors will continue to support the gardens. Your subscriptions and donations are so important in enabling the gardens to flourish and will be vital in ensuring we can celebrate in style.
During 2010 Jonathan Southwell produced a wonderful DVD of the gardens highlighting their seasonal changes and set to the music of Peter Wilkinson. Please look out for a copy when you next visit, all funds of course being reinvested in the gardens.
A very welcome addition in the grounds during 2010 was benching made from wood from our own fallen trees. The school has purchased relevant equipment to make this recycling possible and thanks go to Paul Hunt whose skills and work in this area have been much appreciated.
On a final note, security in the past few years has at times been an issue within the grounds. However I am pleased to report that the final section of security fencing, along our northern border, is now in place and this completes the fencing project.
What can you can you do to help? - The friends are always in need of any help that can be given. This is not always a case of being on the physical side! Perhaps you would be in a position to help, for example by:
Arboretum Clearance Days 2012: These will be considered in the New Year and published on the Arboretum Task Force page of the website. Work sessions are 10.00am to 1.00pm, and all volunteers are very welcome!
If you are interested in helping on any future days it would help if you could register your interest with Vince Davies on 023 8047 2133 or by email so that you can be kept informed about the relevant dates.
So much was achieved throughout the grounds and gardens in 2010, again a big THANK YOU to all who have helped! If you can help during 2011 please contact a member of the committee (details below) either by telephone or at one of our open days.
Sunday, 20th March from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.
Come and see our daffodils and stop for tea, cake and a chat.
Monday, 2nd May (Bank Holiday) from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
Enjoy the bluebells and blossoms in the arboretum. The school’s Jazz band will be playing.
Sunday, 10th July from 2.00pm to 5.00pm
This is when the gardens are most colourful. Meridian Winds will again be playing.
Sunday, 11th September 2.00pm to 5.00pm
This is Heritage Day and the house will again be open for guided tours.
You can see the progress being made within the gardens and grounds, and enjoy some wonderful photographs taken at different times of year on the Gardens web site. Many thanks go to Lynn Black for the work she undertakes to improve and update our web site.
If anyone would like to get more involved they would be very welcome, please contact any member of the committee.
The current members of the committee are as follows and can be contacted through the school on 023 8047 2133 or by email: office@gregg.southampton.sch.uk.
Vince Davies
Chairman & Secretary (School Bursar)
Peter Wilkinson
Treasurer
Janet & David Harley
Co-ordinators of the Italian Garden
Janet is Minutes Secretary
Rosaleen Wilkinson
Co-ordinator of the Herbaceous Borders and Historian
Matthew Hunt
Grounds Manager
Ian Southwell
Co-ordinator of the Arboretum and North Terrace border
Committee Members
Jacky Searle (Publicity)
Adrienne Harris
Steve Harris
Rod Clay
Anne Clay
Paul Young
(by Janet and David Harley)
These reports each year for the AGM can so easily be a repeat of the previous year but that is what gardening is all about as most gardeners know. Each year we have the same jobs to do and each year we have the same high expectations and we always come back to do it again as in our own garden.
The winter of 2009/2010 was hard and we lost a lot of plants and this year we had a lot of replacement work to do. We replaced a lot of lavenders as we had originally planned and we have removed other plants that have grown too big for their space. With Rod’s help we have removed shrubs that really looked out of place in a sunk garden now that they are fully grown. Grasses are still a favourite for providing all year round interest. So far the badgers have not made their presence obvious apart from a little damage on the grass under the pergola. As we commented last year Mare’s Tail raises its head at regular intervals . There is not much we can do about it as the roots are mostly under the brick footpaths. We remove as we see it.
We still have plans to improve the planting under the pergola and in the beds under the yew hedges but just weeding alone takes up a lot of our many days here. It is a big garden to care for and we could not do it without the constant help of Rod and Matt and we thank them very sincerely for this. It is not our own garden and if any-one else felt moved to help share the work we would welcome it but we intend to carry on as long as we can.
(by Rosaleen Wilkinson)
During the winter of 2009-2010 we experienced severe frosts and several falls of snow. Although the garden looked magical under its white blanket, I was dreading seeing what damage had been done to the plants. As I had feared, the more tender plants which had happily survived our normal winters for several years, had succumbed and were reduced to pathetic sticks.
The lovely Penstemons, which I rely on so heavily to give deer-proof colour, were particularly badly hit. When I tried to buy new plants from the nurseries I discovered that their stock plants had also been badly affected and they were unable to supply us until much later in the season. However, when at last I was able buy some, they got established quite quickly and by late summer they were showing a lovely variety of shades. I deliberately left the old stems on the plants to give protection and I hoped that the sturdy looking specimens would be off to a good start for 2011. Guess what? The severe frosts of December 2010 have killed nearly all of them -- but that’s gardening, isn’t it?
The borders still managed to look good in the summer months of 2010, but by September they were rather faded. Unfortunately the Michaelmas daisies planted for late colour proved popular with the deer, and the badgers dug up the Achilleas to look for interesting grubs.
For gardeners the new season always lies ahead with its challenges and successes and the promise of perfect flower beds full of blooms. Matthew Hunt has edged the lawn with wooden boards to give a really neat appearance, he’ll be spreading mulch to keep down the weeds and I’ll be filling in the gaps which winter has made. We look forward to seeing you up at Townhill.
(by Ian Southwell)
Paul and Jonathan installed the fencing along the path and this was quickly followed by the establishment of the second ‘half’ of the North Terrace Border. There was then a frenzy of painting the fence and enriching the soil before planting the bed just in time to see some real colour and shape for the summer open days. Many plants were on the wish list and were purchased to be tried and tested as ‘deer-proof’ in the new part of the border. Many succeeded. We also took advantage of many donated plants and some that were leftovers from plant sales, simply too many plants to list here. In autumn we planted more Alliums for 2011 as they did especially well in the summer, and more Dwarf Daffodil and Tulips. Early signs in 2011 are that the Tulips have again been attacked by deer so will probably not be repeated. The Tiarella ‘Wyerryi’ was one highlight and at least 4 more Tiarella varieties have been ordered for planting in spring 2011.
(by Rosaleen Wilkinson)
During 2010 many improvements were made to the Herb Garden. Jonathan Southwell put down fresh gravel on the symmetrical paths which intersect the area, and this made a huge difference to the smart and attractive appearance of the garden.
Matthew Hunt has planted Italian Cypress trees and they are establishing well, as is the box hedging which was set out two years ago. Matthew and Rod Clay have plans to create a border of specimen Hydrangeas along the back edge of the garden. Matt was also able to fix the water supply to the garden, which was a great benefit to the new plantings in dry weather.
I have continued to put in plants. Gertrude Jekyll designed the Herb Garden to be a colourful mass of plants, rather than her usual arrangement by a sequence of colours, (which I have tried to reproduce in the Herbaceous Borders). So it is a matter of cramming in a variety of specimens, always governed by what the deer will or won’t eat.
We are considering getting round metal seats to go under the lovely foxglove trees in the centre of the square beds in the Herb Garden, it would make a pleasant place to sit.
A big thank you also goes to my son Jonathan Wilkinson for his help this year.
(by Ian Southwell)
All seven of the new trees purchased and planted as a result of a grant in 2009 continue to thrive throughout 2010. Rod and Jonathan reduced the Yew hedge at the back to a regular size and shape and Matt continues this work along the bottom. All fruit trees were bug-banded in the autumn by Rod and Ian has also done some ‘running repairs’ (thanks to Badger damage) throughout the winter. Rod has continued with pruning the trees and their summer beauty and bounty was the best in memory. We hope that the banding will enhance the quality of the fruit in 2011.
Apple sales on Heritage Day were good but we need to consider a later event to capitalise on later varieties as they ripen. Stating the value of a ‘Suggested Donation’ was more profitable than collecting miscellaneous donations. Most trees now identified although there are one or two doubts and we will seek to clarify when in fruit. Some more work still needed in the corner, with invasive weeds, and a fallen apple and cedar tree.
Further work has been needed on the pergola due to an issue with one of the new oak beams and the cracking of three of the stone mounts at the top of the pillars. Work to correct this is currently underway and having further reviewed old photographs new cross connecting struts are being added. It will be interesting to see how the wisteria covers the new trellis work this year having been extensively cut the previous year.
The drainage pipe from the pond is blocked (or broken). This means the fountain cannot now be used on Open Days. It has been suggested that a solar-powered one be used. The brick path around the pond is damaged and when this is replaced or repaired it would be the time to consider a new pipe.
(by Ian Southwell)
Seven dates done in 2010 and the small Volunteer Taskforce continues to grow as well as work miracles. There were overall 72 attendances of 3 hours each – on average 10 people for each session. The total of 216 hours of hard work donated by volunteers which is almost double the previous year. And it shows. We have been fortunate enough to have several new helpers as a direct result of having more dates as they provide greater flexibility. The Taskforce Dates have been further increased to 8 for 2011 so we will finally achieve total clearance by year end and provide opportunity for others to join us as we go. Labelling trees has also been continued by Rod and Ian with over 150 labels now used. We also continue to focus on re-planting where possible, asking for sponsorships, memorials or grants whenever we can. One special ‘memorial tree’ was sponsored by the Grandparents of the late Tom Hay, ex pupil of the school and the planting on Heritage Day proved to be a very special and memorable event, well supported by Friends, Family and School. Trying to re-establish ‘Lillium Giganteum’ was attempted but sadly failed – Ian was unable to maintain the feeding and watering due to personal circumstances. The wire netting on the Robin boxes was removed by some determined squirrels (along with the eggs) but it was replaced by Ian at Christmas with some stronger wire so we hope for better results in 2011. The Grant we applied for (to purchase 5 Japanese Maples for the ‘skittle alley’) was sadly refused, but we did get the Elm sapling from the Elm Tree Trust for a trial planting and this will be planted and monitored by the students at the school. The ‘Hydrangea Walkway’ (which will double as the school Cross-Country route) which we wanted to establish behind the new cricket field in 2010 has not yet been done but due to the dryness a decision has been made to plant large shrubs other than Hydrangea when the planting starts. The School very kindly hosted a small ‘thank you’ reception for the regulars of the team at Christmas which was a lovely evening and much appreciated. We are also extremely grateful to Sue and Michelle for maintaining the supply of tea and cake which keeps us going.
To renew your membership of the Friends of Townhill Park House Gardens for 2011, please download and complete the membership form. Membership is £5.00 for single membership, or £8.00 for family membership.
Rosaleen Wilkinson has recently published a book called the Life and Times of a Gertrude Jekyll Garden about the fascinating history of Townhill Park House and its gardens. The book brings to life the world of the grand country estate through the eye-witness accounts of members of Lord Swaythling's family, their servants and gardeners, and the people who have lived and worked at Townhill up to the present day. It is a "must" for Gertrude Jekyll enthusiasts. The book, price £12, is available at Open Days, from the Gregg School, Bitterne History Society shop, or by post - Tel 023 8078 1012
Visits by members of The Friends of Townhill Park House Gardens can be arranged by prior appointment. Unfortunately visits during school ours are not possible.
Vince Davies
(Chairman)
