'Romance in the Ruins' : A garden designed by Claudia de Yong for Wyevale Garden Centre
At BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2017
Above: 13th Century fortification at Beeston
Over the coming months, I will be writing a number of small articles on the different places I’m currently visiting – from nurseries to historic buildings – all of which will feature in some way, or have helped inspire, the ‘Wyevale Show Garden’ at this year’s BBC Gardener’s World Live in June.
Today, despite the gloomy weather after some amazing April warmth, I have been winding my way through the Cheshire and Shropshire countryside to take a look at various castles. One of these magnificent imposing landmarks is the early 13th Century fortification, built high on a sandstone crag at Beeston, boasting spectacular views across the Cheshire countryside and beyond.
Above: Entrance to the castle at Bestow; and Top: Seen from above
Beeston was a former Royal castle built by Ranulf de Blondville, the 6th Earl of Chester on his return from the Crusades. In 1237 it was taken over by King Henry III. The castle is now in ruins, although some of the walls and towers still stand so you can imagine how the whole castle would have looked in it’s ‘hey day’. The castle is now owned and managed by English Heritage.
Just a stones throw away is a very different castle, a mid 1800’s ‘Medieval style’ fortified family home. Built at Peckforton by a wealthy landowner John Tollemanche, the castle towers up out of its heavily wooded surroundings. It is now a popular hotel and wedding venue. Although a ‘folly’ and of no real age, the castle still retains an air of grandeur and history.
Above: Peckforton Castle
Above and below: Whittington Castle
The 12th Century Whittington Castle in Shropshire, is a picturesque romantic ruin originally a motte-and-bailey castle. Originally its wooden or stone keep, the motte, would have been built high on the earthworks and would have overlooked the enclosed courtyard below known as the ‘bailey’. Both would have been surrounded by a protective ditch or palisade. The castle in Shropshire is now managed by a small rural community, the Whittington Castle Preservation Fund.
This ancient monument at Whittington springs-to-life when one of the many re-enactments and ‘living history weekends’ takes place in the grounds.
Above: Design for the 'Romance in the Ruins' show garden inspired by castles and forts around the UK
The show garden I’ve designed for Wyevale is entitled, ‘Romance in the Ruins’. The design encompasses a partially, tumbled down walled garden within the ruins of a castle style folly. After a period of neglect, this garden is now being slowly nurtured back to life...
During the visits to these beautiful ‘monsters’ that tower over our countryside, my eyes have been widened. Whether it was the size, location or simply the reasons for which they exist, each one has inspired my design to some degree and means I can, in some small way, pay homage to these formidable parts of our national history.
FOR TICKET INFORMATION TO THE SHOW
Link: https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/visit/ticket-information
NEC Birmingham, 15-17 June 2017. I look forward to seeing you there!