Growing Up
Fast
A look at Mount Pleasant Gardens
Mount Pleasant Gardens has been
created from a blank canvas in just 13 years
and now extends to over 10 acres. Never
intended to be opened to the public, the
garden visitor now has the rare opportunity
to explore a new vibrant garden that
has been solely created and gardened by
its owners - Dave and Louise Darlington -
purely to indulge their passion for plants
and nature.
W
ith views over the rolling Cheshire Naturally, Mount Pleasant also offers the horticulturally-
Plains, and fantastic mixed minded masses of interest. There‘s a tropical area full of
gardens arranged on a hillside, palms, a tree fernery, a Japanese garden, a wildflower
Mount Pleasant Gardens is a treat. meadow, a laburnum arch, a vegetable patch, a bog
Surprisingly, it was never intended area - and four ponds with two waterfalls. Because
to be made public. But the owners Mount Pleasant Gardens is located on an open and
and creators of the ten-acre garden, Dave and Louise sometimes windy hillside, shelter-belts had to be
Darlington, who have owned it for 13 years, decided to established to allow these plants to grow, and in doing
share their passion for nature and horticulture and five so the Darlingtons have created cool havens in which
years ago opened their RHS-recommended garden visitors can escape on hot days.
to visitors.
This variety of planting also means that there’s a lot of
Now visitors can come and see a garden created with seasonal interest at Mount Pleasant Gardens. Come in
love and attention to detail, one that is still being spring, and the rhododendrons and azaleas are alive with
developed. Mount Pleasant is known for its terraces and red and orange flowers. In May, the laburnum shows its
tiered garden, offering bracing walks just a few short yellow blossoms, and in autumn, you’ll see a tremendous
miles from Chester and close to the Delamere Forest palette from the garden’s trees: golds, reds and yellows.
Park - and its reputation is growing fast. Another fascinating aspect of Mount Pleasant is that
the Darlingtons have encouraged wildlife, to help create
Within the garden, it’s a constant delight. The paths
a natural biodiversity and balance, and to reduce the
twist constantly, revealing new moods at every turn,
need to use weedkillers and insecticides. The meadow
from bright herbaceous borders to small intimate
in particular has introduced a new kind of habitat,
seating areas and huge areas of open space, full of light
attracting a vast array of insects, birds, and animals,
space and air. Adding immeasurably to Mount Pleasant
while the ponds and bog garden provide fascinating
Gardens are many sculptures, complementing the plants
focal points, and also teem with life. Indeed, the
and giving the gardens year-round interest. There’s a
garden’s south-westerly aspect and numerous springs
much-loved collection of sandstone sculptures created
have enabled it to develop into a lush and deceptively-
by artist Andrew Worthington, who also offers courses
mature landscape. Walk down the hillsides, enjoying the
in carving, and in September 2009 the Darlingtons are
magnificent views of the Welsh Hills, and you’ll feel that
hosting their second sculpture exhibition.
the garden has been there forever.
Discover more at cheshiresgardens.com 39
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