Garden Visit

Sir Roy Strong’s Garden at The Laskett

We live fairly near The Laskett. So seeing it was open, we thought we’d have an afternoon out and went to visit. And we took lots of photos – so thanks to Charles for his contributions.

Introduction

Sir Roy has donated the place to Perennial, the Gardeners’ Benevolent Fund, after rejection by the National Trust.

Here is further background to the creation of the garden in an interview with the director of the Garden Museum.

And the garden has a book 

And here is the plan of the four acre garden:

You can see it is both full of formality and, well, full. There are many small gardens, clipped evergreens 

He’s pinched our wavy hedges!

and long views:

At the time of our visit there was a celebration of tulips, which, as you can see, compliment the nature of the garden beautifully, adding life and colour to the vistas and small gardens:

This is the garden outside the entrance of the house.

It’s very busy – I wonder if those people who like busy planting also like busy gardens? Lots of detail to feast your eyes on? In this case with rhythm and repetition, which I do love.

It’s also very flat, which is somewhat ameliorated by having a couple of built viewpoints.

giving a view:

This is only looking one way, of course….this gives a view of a welcome open space.

So, we wandered. We didn’t use the Podcatcher as neither of us liked it as an addition. It’s an interesting idea – at these points (see pic) you get a talk from Sir Roy on a Podcatcher which you wear round your neck.

Charles again - looks very relaxed and having a nice afternoon off, don’t he?

And we were no doubt too busy to Podcatch, taking pictures for your benefit.

The camera goes if I just say ‘cheese’. Great, isn’t it?

So here’s some of what we found:

Brittania, looking suitably determined.

Words in a garden: translates as “They who plant a garden, plant happiness.”

 The garden is described as ‘autobiographical’ and has much reference to Sir Roy and his  wife ,Julia Trevelyan Oman  and their accomplishments

humour

tulips!

Space! Bit bleak - why so much?

ornamental grasses!

seats – some…

Bears - heraldic, I imagine.

pretty

gardens

grass

An artist! Clair Hodgson is artist in residence.

So, what did I think? It was much better than the first time I saw it, thirteen years ago. Such a formal garden needs meticulous upkeep and that is what it’s getting. The amount of maintenance of just the hard stuff, never mind the topiary, must be overwhelming, but it’s essential. 

I’m not sure what the planting may be like later in the year – I suspect that Sir Roy was not a great plant enthusiast, so roses and hydrangeas may be the strongest summer addition. In this spring the tulips made a great addition. Sir Roy is no longer hands on, so there maybe further additions from the new owners.

It is a confusing walk round and can be disorientating. You might wonder how you’re going to find your way out. The plan must help avid map readers. (Is map reading a dying art though?) It’s hard to know just what the original pleasure was for Sir Roy and Julia Trevelyan Oman in seeing themselves and achievements reflected throughout the garden, and the this so called autobiographical aspect isn’t it’s most heart warming feature. But I love the theatrical quality of it all and, well groomed, the vistas and surprises are a delight. I wish Perennial every success with what they’ve taken on.

Most articles about The Laskett are written in conventional awe and admiration style, so I thought some of you might find this more personal view interesting.