Gifting the Ephemeral
What to do with Veddw Garden when we're dead?
For the past 35 years we have been making a garden at Veddw. And now, knowing we won’t live forever, (we have not had a nasty diagnosis) we’re thinking about what will happen to the house and garden when we die.
We don’t have children, so we have no obligation to leave it to anyone in particular.
The Plan
What I would really really like to do is to leave it to a young keen garden loving person who would be capable of turning it into a business to support them. And who would be capable of developing it to keep it alive and exciting.
I imagine it like this: someone will one day discover, out of the blue, that they have been left the place. With everything, as it is. They will walk into a house and garden which will be all theirs, and if we’re lucky they will have a little money we may have managed to keep (hmm - unlikely?!) as a starter.
The idea seems magical to me.
Having no idea at the minute just when either of us might die, we cannot name anyone ourselves – they might be too old or entrenched in something else to uproot and dig in at the right moment.
And I have no wish to know this person or personally influence them - though, of course, there is much material about the garden as well as the garden itself which would inevitably impinge, I imagine.
Our Wills
So, we’re imagining making our wills so that a group of willing and paid (a little bit) people (The Panel) will select this person after we’re gone.  This would apply if we were to die very close in time to one another, and it would apply if I die last.
If Charles dies last who knows what he may wish to do? New wife? Leave it all to a cat’s home? That would be up to him. He might even do the same as we’re thinking here.
We’re not sure that it’s possible to leave property to an unknown person – we will need to discover how to do that. So if anyone knows and can tell us how we’d be delighted to hear. And we will need to find the willing people for The Panel.
What do you think?
But at this point we are wanting to discuss this idea with anyone who has useful or interesting thoughts about it.
What would you do? What will the problems be? What do we need to consider? Who should be on the Panel? How much should we leave to pay them?
And in general:
And, in addition to all this, it seems to me that the questions - what are the very best possibilities for a garden’s future after the creator dies or leaves? when has that worked and when has it failed? (The Newt? Tintinhull? York Gate?) are worth discussing.
I hope this post on a new to me platform works and doesn’t annoy. Hope to hear from you.
Anne Xx
Such an interesting conversation, and one that most us aren't brave enough to have. I know you've said that you don't want to leave it in the hands of an organisation, but thought it worth mentioning the Eco Land Coop, who I don't have any personal experience with but seem to be doing good things.
Either way, I can't help but think of Prospect Cottage, and what's happening there, where long-time volunteer at the garden Jonny Bruce eventually became the custodian/curator of that space, though I believe he operates under the watchful eyes of some sort of foundation. Another possible option for you?
Whatever you decide, it's fascinating to be able to follow your train of thought here. Thanks for letting us in.
What a lovely idea. Although I appreciate the legal
stuff and possible care needs makes it complicated I am sure there are people out there who can advise you. I plan to forward your article to a young gardener who has just become Head Gardener at a National Trust for Scotland property where I volunteer. I would love to get his perspective on your idea although not how to execute it.