Wallington Walled Garden 30th March 2011

April will soon be here, the clocks have been altered and the harsh winter weather we experienced, seems a distant memory. Now is the time for gardens to show new signs of growth.

I come to Wallington one day a week to help as a volunteer in the Walled Garden and grounds. Every week on my visits, you can see that the Walled Garden is changing, it is starting to become greener and small splashes of colour are starting to appear.

Walled Garden - 30th March 2011

Over the last few weeks a great deal of work has been carried out by the National Trust Garden Team and all of the volunteers around the grounds and in the Walled Garden. Grass cutting equipment is now being readied for the first cut of the season. Always a sign that the gardening year is progressing!

The work we get to do changes every week and consists of general maintenance work, weeding borders, tidying paths, cutting back shrubs and bushes, edging grass and lawns etc. All of the hard work is ensuring that the Walled Garden will be seen at its best throughout the forthcoming season.

Wherever you walk around the property there is always something of interest to see. It is always better when in can be done in good weather. On the way to the Walled Garden through East Wood yesterday, I noticed the Rhododendrons were just starting to come into bloom.

Rhododendrons

 

Even when it rains (like it did yesterday), you will find visitors walking around the Walled Garden, many under umbrellas. A couple had travelled from the Peak District and whilst talking they commented that this was their "favourite garden".

Daffodils in the rain

The Walled Garden and Edwardian Conservatory is well worth a visit, not yet at its best, but slowly getting there.  

Views around the Walled Garden - 30/03/11

Joined the other volunteers in the Walled garden today. Started to rain early morning, stopped before lunch and started again early afternoon. I was given the task of edging the grass, this is to prepare grass for the first cut of the year.

Water Feature

Colour in the rain!

Walled Garden

Walled Garden

Daffodils in the Walled Garden

Walled Garden

Colour in the rain!

Views around the Grounds and Walled Garden - 23/03/10

Wall to wall sunshine today at Wallington. Last three days has seen some dry and warm weather. Gardeners continue to cut down trees and bushes affected by the cold winter frost and snow experienced.

View of House from East Lawn.

Gates to East Wood and Walled Garden.

Garden Pond.

Gate to Walled Garden.

Volunteering in the Grounds and Gardens at Wallington.

The harsh winter weather really took its toll on the Grounds and Gardens at Wallington. Over the last few months, trees, shrubs and bushes have had to be cut down and removed - victims of the frost and snow. Some areas now seem bare and open!

Path to Walled Garden - beside Garden Pond.

The largest and oldest was the 200 year old oak tree, that fell and blocked the path beside Garden Pond. This has been cut to allow visitors once again to use the path to the Walled Garden. The bulk of the tree still remains in Garden Pond and will be removed, sometime in the future.

Along with a group of regular volunteers, I have been coming to Wallington every week, since early January, to help the National Trust Garden Team around the Grounds, but mainly in the Walled Garden.

The recent spell of warmer weather has been influential in producing small areas of colour around the Grounds and Walled Garden.

All of the work carried out and the general tidying up has ensured that the Grounds and Walled Garden will continue to be seen at their best, despite the ravages of last Winter.

Crocus in the Walled Garden.

"Splash of colour".

Visitor numbers are starting to pick up and whilst at work around the property at Wallington, there is always the opportunity to talk to the visitors and try to answer any questions that they may have. Visitors always have positive comments to make, especially about the Walled Garden.

I really enjoy my time volunteering and helping at Wallington, there is always something different to do and many different areas to tidy up and maintain. The National Trust Garden Team here, are friendly and professional. It is a pleasure to work with them and help to keep the estate in such a wonderful condition.

 Wallington continues to be a popular National Trust property to visit in this area, I get a great deal of personal satisfaction in helping, (albeit in a small way), maintain the Ground and Gardens of such a wonderful place. I am really looking forward to the next few months when the Grounds and Gardens will be seen at their best and full of interest and colour!

Hot Border - beside Conservatory.

Signs of Spring in the Walled Garden 17/03/11

The Walled Garden is starting to show signs of Spring. Areas of colour are beginning to appear, albeit in small patches and small areas. During my day in the Garden, I have taken the following photographs:

Signs of Spring.

Buds.

A touch of blue.

Ground cover colour.

Pink and White.

Crocus

Primrose.

Daffodils in the shade.

Daffodils.

The start of "Hot Border " colour.

Tulips.

Views around the Grounds - 11/03/11

The day was spent tidying up the courtyard ready for the dog show this weekend. Weather according to the forecast is set to change and for snow on high ground. Splashes of colour appearing around the grounds and garden.

View of House through Clock tower entrance.

Courtyard.

Gates to Walled Garden path.

East Wood.

Portico Walk.

East Wood.

Edwardian Conservatory, Walled Garden.

'Hot Border' and Edwardian Conservatory.

East Wood.

Courtyard and Clock tower.

Clock Tower exhibit room.

Views around the Grounds and Walled Garden - 02/03/11

After a very hard overnight frost, the sun came out and the Walled Garden had a large number of visitors. The garden is starting to get small splashes of colour. A new season for the House is looming and the garden and grounds are starting to come into their own after the hard winter.



Clock Tower.




Griffin Heads, East Lawn, Wallington.



Griffin Heads.



Spring Colour in the Walled Garden.



Spring Colour in the Walled Garden.



Spring Colour in the Walled Garden.