Left to right:
Arne Maynard leading a course at Allt y Bela Lower west terrace at High Glanau in June H.A. Tipping in the loggia at Mathern Palace
The gardens always came first. His typical design was to have a formal
layout around the house, gradually merging into a natural-looking, though carefully-planned, garden and woodland. His gardens are characterised by divided compartments with sculpted yew hedging, topiary birds and animals, long grass bowling greens and lush planting. Water was a trademark too; if there was no stream, he would create one, pumping water from some distance if necessary,’ adds Helena Gerrish. First Tipping restored the dilapidated Mathern Palace, near Chepstow,
which had been the official residence of the Bishops of Llandaff from 15th to 17th century. This was his main residence for nearly 20 years before he chose a site just a couple of miles away to build Mounton House, an ambitious half-timbered Jacobean-style mansion with extensive formal gardens. One of the last important country houses to be built in Britain, Mounton House was where Tipping entertained the great and the good of the Edwardian era. His next project was Wyndcliffe Court, near Chepstow, for the Clay family, owners of the Cardiff shipping company. Finally, he created his perfect home and garden at High Glanau Manor, which thankfully, visitors can still experience today. On 13 May the garden opens as part of the National Gardens Scheme and on 10 June a Rare Plant Fair will take place in the grounds. In fact Helena Gerrish opens High Glanau Manor by appointment throughout the year, offering lectures and cream teas as well as a tour of the gardens; contact her on 01600 860005 or
helenagerrish@hotmail.co.uk. Sounds like the perfect Edwardian afternoon.
Wales in Bloom Our towns and villages are keen to show off their gardens, too. Both Chepstow and Usk won gold medals (again!) in the recent Wales in Bloom competition. Each has a thriving army of gardeners on a mission to make their patch the prettiest.
walesinbloom.org.uk uskinbloom.org.uk
Three score and ten That’s the number of gardens in the Wye Valley & Vale of Usk that will open to visitors as part of the National Gardens Scheme in 2012. From the co-ordinated openings of Coed y Paen, Llanfoist, Llanthony and Usk to one-offs like Ochran Mill (its pinball and arcade collection is very popular with non-gardeners and children) and Dewstow Gardens (5-acre Grade 1-listed garden with underground grottoes created around 1895 by James Pulham & Son which was buried after World War 11 and rediscovered in 2000).
ngs.co.uk
‘..his love of plants led him to designing gardens, and gardens led to houses..’
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Stop Press Details of the very first Monmouthshire Garden Festival are emerging as this visitor guide goes to print. Keep up-to-date with developments about this autumn event at
adventa.org.uk
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