Garden Gates are Opening
Following on from the seminar organized in 2009 at Gatton Park in Surrey, drawing on the inspiration of the the Gateway Trust, set up by the dynamic Bettina Harden to provide the facility for disadvantaged people to visit gardens, Surrey Gardens Trust reported on the first visit funded and arranged by them to the beautiful rhododendron garden at Ramster for a group of residents from the Meath Home in Godalming. Following the success of this first enterprise, I organized several further outings with sponsorship obtained from the South-eastern branch of the Historic Houses Association.
The first visit this year (2010) was for another group of Meath Home residents to Vann. The day in May was (unusually for spring of this year!) warm and sunny and the garden bright with yellow azaleas, wisteria, magnolias, cherry and fruit blossom. The renowned Gertrude Jekyll water garden was hugely appreciated, the visitors negotiating the uneven Bargate stone paths and bridges without mishap and admiring the un-furling ‘shepherds’ crooks’ of the many ferns and the large copper leaves of rodgersia. Tea in the historic barn was much enjoyed.
The next outing arranged for a group of more disabled residents from the Meath Home, some in wheelchairs, was to the walled garden at Loseley Park, with tea after. Jill Leggatt and Sarah King came to help. Again it was a very happy visit, the garden with its very different ‘compartments’ was much enjoyed as was the cream tea.
A group of about fifteen boys and girls aged 13 and 14, from St Dominic’s School in Hambledon, a school for children with a variety of disabilities, visited Vann in mid-June, accompanied by their teachers. Again they were lucky with the weather, a lovely sunny day! Mary gave a short introduction about the house and the pupils then scattered around the garden, with our member, Sarah King on hand to help (invaluable as Mary was on crutches!). Some chose to sketch. No-one fell into the ponds! Alas, the time allowed was all to short. Tea was served on the lawn, home-made giant chocolate chip cookies, which went down very well.
The final visit for this year was again to Ramster with a small group of very handi-capped wheelchair-bound residents with their ‘minders’ from the Hydon Hill Cheshire Home. Miranda Gunn very kindly led people round. The garden looked stunning bathed in sunshine; the rhododendrons were now mostly over but instead there were carpets of wild spotted orchid, and acers of all colours glowing in the sunlight. The dappled shade from the many specimen trees, including Cornus kousa, Davidia involucrata (the handkerchief tree) and a delightful small-flowered, very pale mauvey-white specimen rhododendron, ‘odorata’, with a delicious smell were much admired and appreciated. A delicious tea with a choice of home-made cakes was served. The pleasure that the outing gave was palpable and everyone felt quite humbled by the experience. It is hoped that SGT members will volunteer for these projects next year or suggest groups who would enjoy these visits or, indeed, provide sponsorship. Please contact me (mary@caroe.com)
Opening All the Gates is a partnership project between The National Trust, The Historic Houses Association, The Royal Horticultural Society and The Association of Gardens Trusts. Opening All the Gates is a legacy of the Gateway Gardens Trust and is supported by English Heritage.
> Opening All the Gates - an invitation (PDF)
