Am I excited? In a way,but happy and joyful are better words.The fifth garden is coming and it is being located only a few miles from where I live, ideal for a day out. The fifth garden? Well, I had better explain that the RHS has four gardens. These are:Wisley, in Surrey, which is south of London; Hyde Hall, in Essex; Rosemoor in the South West; and Harlow Carr, in the North East of England. But the RHS was concerned that other areas were neglected, and after several years of searching they lit upon Bridgewater Hall, a derelict estate in Salford, Greater Manchester, and it is now under development. There will be an orchard of native fruit varieties, ornamental and vegetable gardens and garden architecture, with facilities for visitors and educational services. I cannot wait. Well, I suppose then that I am excited. Glad of a great garden near my home and glad that my beloved North West is getting what it deserves.
Each of the great gardens is in a different part of the country, and you may know that Britain is small and very diverse in landscape and weather. Wisley, headquarters, is in Surrey, the quintessential England of green shires in the South. Hyde Hall is in the drier, yet still green terrain of Essex in the East, whereas Rosemoor is set in the rich, rolling, but moist lands of Devon. Harlow Carr in the North is in the fertile, but cooler lands of Yorkshire. Bridgewater Hall is the derelict estate of the eighteenth century Duke of Bridegwater, who led the construction of the Bridgewater Canal, which runs near my home; and so it has brought the RHS to the rainy North West of England. The new garden will stand in contrast to Hyde Hall, which is in England's driest county. We in North West England are not the wettest area, but we can be damp enough.
But five gardens is not enough, for the RHS has many partner gardens spread across the nation. To find them you need to type in RHS+partner gardens and select from a list arranged alphabetically. They are located in most areas of the country. I will choose one that I know and love. Head south from Llandudno down the Conway Valley,in Wales, and soon you come to Bodnant Gardens. A full description of Bodnant is beyond the scope of this article, though I have written of it before. Set in the gentle Welsh hills of Denbighshire, east of the more rugged Snowdonia, Bodnant combines the manicured lawns and flower of a great house with wildflower meadows and woodland gardens based around a fast-flowing Welsh mountain stream. The garden boasts five national collections, which are the nation's official homes of a particular kind of cultivated plant, part of its commitment to the preservation of genetic diversity.It also is a home to several champion trees, which are trees belonging to species native to Britain that are deemed the best examples of their kind and are protected with great dedication. Yet the twenty acres of the Bodnant estate given over to the gardens is only the start, for another twenty or so of the hilly woodland is under development. I will be visiting when it is ready!
Comments
They publish gardening books and hold flower shows, such as Chelsea. .RHS gardens charge entry fees. They might do commercial work for businesses and consultancy work for governments.
Your introductory paragraph considers the Royal Horticultural Society as a "gardening organization. It runs flower shows and spectacular gardens for the public's benefit and advises the government and the people on all aspects of horticulture. Membership is open to all on payment of an annual fee, and I am a member."
What do they do financially to ensure the smooth operation of their activities and interests? It's more than membership fees, correct?
Ireland has a National Botanic Garden at Glasnevin in Dublin; and the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland has its own garden in Russborough, County Wicklow.
Not only was Bridgewater a suitable size, but access is very easy, as the area is well served with roads, including motorways. This was a major factor in deciding to site it there.
Chelsea is the Queen's personal preference, but you are right, she does not routinely attend shows.
Yes, the five gardens are in England, but Scotland has its own Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society,with its own gardens, for as you might know, the Scots like to have their own institutions, for they are legally a country distinct from England, as is Northern Ireland. There is currently no RHS garden in Wales, but Wales has its own National Botanic Garden in Carmarthenshire. There is a Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland,which acquired its royal status prior to independence and retained it afterwards.The various societies work together in a friendly and co-operative way
It is worth noting that there are several highly rated RHS partner gardens in Wales, such as Bodnant, which I mentioned, Aberglasney and Powis Castle.
The other problem in getting a wide spread of gardens is that what was needed was an estate that was not already a garden or a productive estate,ideally one gone derelict that could present the RHS with a blank canvas for development. Such estates are few and far between, and moreover, they would have to meet size criteria and be large enough for what the RHS wanted to do. It took years for them to locate and decide on Bridgewater.
It would be worth following a garden through the four seasons, but if I were to do the article would take a year.
The thing most important here is that different locations favor different garden types, so it is important that one take the opportunity to visit gardens even though one might be familiar with a garden on a different location. And, a visits in different seasons can be rewarding.
I recently viewed a movie that focused on the Chelsea show. What I now understand is the queen does not attend shows throughout the country, with the same regularity as the chelsea show.
One curiosity is that the now five locations are all in england, none in scotland, Wales, or the part of Ireland under British control. Is this purely an English society, or a U. K. society?
It sure will be lovely. It is going to be a mighty project. Clearing and preparing the ground is going to take much effort. Sadly,some of the old greenhouses on the site are too derelict to be saved, but replicas are being put in place.
How lovely for you that there will be a new garden to visit close by!