Holt Farm joins an organic


GARDENS TO VISIT IN SOMERSET


elite group by Vivienne Lewis


Everything is bursting into bloom in June, a fantastic time of year to visit gardens, and you are spoilt for choice in Somerset. Here we highlight a pick of the best for you to discover – one garden is open just over the border in North Devon during the late Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, but if you can’t manage to get to it by then, Durcombe Water welcomes visitors by appointment through the summer.


We do our best to ensure that details are correct at time of going to press, but we advise readers to check before making a journey. Gardens open for the National Gardens Scheme can be seen on their website: www.ngs.org.uk


Holt Farm Organic Gardens by Sally Gregson


In the lush green farmland of North Somerset, overlooking Blagdon Lake in the Mendip Hills, lies an almost unique garden: it is one of a bare handful of organic ornamental gardens, certified with the Soil Association. Tim and Sarah Mead are very proud that their garden at Holt Farm joined Highgrove, Clarence House and Ryton Organic Gardens in January.


Sarah has a mission. She would like to see every gardener subscribe to the ideals and ideas of growing vegetables and flowers sustainably and without damaging the delicate eco- systems of the soil. She would like to see it become so wide- spread and commonplace that there should be no premium paid for organic produce and that organic gardening and food should not be the preserve of the wealthy few.


The gardens at Holt Farm are set within their own certified organic dairy farm. The ornamental vegetable garden has been run on strictly organic lines for several years so it made sense to include their beautiful modern garden of swaying grasses and perennials. Two years ago Sarah took the decision to close the garden while they prepared and applied for its certification with the Soil Association.


But Sarah did not want to compromise on the planting. She and Head Gardener, James Cox, did their research. They discovered the few nurseries that produced plants according


The gardens at Holt Farm are set within their own certified organic dairy farm


to the strict guidelines, and those they were unable to source they grew on in quarantine conditions and propagated themselves.


And they tackled some serious problems. In the main garden alongside the house, overlooking Blagdon Lake, the island beds had become completely overrun with bindweed. When James turned it over during the winter every forkful resembled spaghetti. The top 60cm was laboriously worked over time and again until it was clean. It was replanted this May, but they recognise somewhat ruefully that the bindweed will inevitably return. However, having cleared the vast majority they are determined to attack each and every shoot that dares raise its head.


With two years’ hiatus there was time to create new areas too. On the other side of a farm-gate a small field has been ploughed, harrowed and sown with a special meadow mix of non-native seed that will flower continuously until October. It brings a whole new dimension to the farmer leaning over his gate.


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Round the corner another remarkable area has been created. Tall white birches, Betula utilis jacquemontii, stand straight and serene against the dark surrounding shrubbery. Sarah plans to cover the ground with Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) so that for a fleeting few weeks in spring it will become a


Odd, but not everyone knows we do home insurance


We do. Call 01460 57901 for a quote or pop into the office to talk to Angela Joy at NFU Mutual Office, Park View, Eaglewood Park, Ilminster TA19 9DQ


Agent of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited. Country Gardener We do right by you 15


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