Outing - Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire - 14th July 2018
Outing - July 14, 2018
Our July 2018 outing to Trentham Gardens held promise as we alighted the coach and saw the exuberant planted wooden containers. Passing through into the gardens via the bridge over the River Trent one is met to the right by the Floral Labyrinth designed by Piet Oudolf with a series of 32 beds of herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses planted in 2007.
The Rivers of Grass mainly consist of 2 types of Molina caerulea, ‘Edith Dudzuz’ & ‘Heidebraut’ giving texture and movement.
The formal Italianate Gardens designed by Tom Stuart Smith were not at their best due to the extremely hot summer in this part of the Midlands with many plants having passed their best.
In 2014, the hillside was cleared to reconnect Capability Brown’s lake and the parkland with its many trees and a recent addition has been an annual meadow on the hillside inspired by Professor Nigel Dunnett. Clearance of Burke’s Wood has led to the development of a woodland meadow on the far side of the lake with in 2016/17, planting of 70,000 herbaceous perennials and 200,000 bulbs interspersed by some magnificent sculptures and wooden carvings.
Continuing a leisurely stroll around the lake, which can take up to 1 hr as you stop to admire the planting and sculptures, on a hot summers day many took advantage of a boat trip on the lake. The near side of the lake has beds of annual plantings and more structures finishing back near to the bridge with a tranquil view of the river.
Of course any visit to Trentham would not be complete without a visit to the garden centre and a peruse of the many individual shops and food & drink establishments,
Well worth a visit and it is very easy to while away a good few hours.
