Dorset Cuttings


GARDENERS CUTTINGS


a look at news, events and happenings in Dorset


Inspirational grass garden opens up this summer


An inspirational contemporary grass garden will be opening to the public for the first time this summer. Farrs, in central Beaminster, is the walled garden of internationally acclaimed furniture designer, John Makepeace and its striking grass garden is his first foray into garden design. The garden opens to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme on Sundays 25th July and 29th August, from 11am – 5pm. Each


open day will also be supported by Neil Lucas, the UK’s leading ornamental grass specialist and holder of eight consecutive Chelsea Gold Medals.


“I was keen to incorporate several key components into this garden,” said John. “Structurally I wanted to include a bridge, shady terrace and a retreat. To these I added water, the grasses themselves and a circular route through the whole area.”


It was an ambitious project and the actual construction turned out to be a major undertaking, requiring structural engineers, diggers and many, many man hours.


“The garden is bordered by stone walls, and historic yew topiary,” said John. “Any new structures had to work with these and the grass plantings. We designed a wonderfully slender tapering bridge and incorporated a lot of natural materials including flint-knapping on the semi-circular retreat. The grasses then link together all the structure in a wash of movement and colour.”


All the grasses were chosen for their individual contribution to the garden. In particular John looked for those that would provide a long flowering season or strong winter form. Plant research alone took nearly a year. He travelled the country looking for distinctive grasses to trial; then spent hours on further book research, before beginning to order the thousands of grasses now in the garden.


“Here in Dorset we are lucky to have an internationally renowned grass specialist on our doorstep,” added John. “Wimborne’s Knoll Gardens has supplied a huge number of the grasses at Farrs and I am delighted that Knoll’s owner, Neil Lucas has agreed to join us on our open days this summer to share his considerable expertise.”


As well as displaying a selection of his grasses Neil will also be talking about using ornamental grasses in the garden on 6th June only. The talk will take place at 3pm and be followed by a garden tour. Booking is strongly recommended as places are strictly limited.


The talk and garden visit are priced at £4 each, refreshments will be available on each day. Places may be reserved by post and cheques should be payable to The National Gardens Scheme and sent to John Makepeace, Farrs, Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3NB enclosing a SAE envelope.


Knoll Gardens opens May – October, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm and November – April, Wednesday – Saturday, 10 – 4pm. Call 01202 873031 or visit www.knollgardens.co.uk for more information.


See Best of Time Off Country Gardener


Eat the cupcake then plant the wrapper!


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Cupcakes with a gardening future!


Cupcake Garden creates beautiful bespoke cupcakes for all special occasions. But there’s a difference. In a bid to be different from all the other cupcake bakers, Cupcake Garden are giving a seeded shape away with each cupcake. This is a shape (our favourites being butterflies and flowers) made out of biodegradable paper that has wildflower seeds embedded within. So after eating your yummy cupcake, we then ask you kindly to plant the shape in your cupcake container and grow some pretty flowers! Hence the name ‘Cupcake Garden’ The seeded shapes can vary, and they even offer ones that are suitable for extra special events such as Christenings and Weddings. You can find Cupcake Garden at Shepton Mallet street market every Friday between 9.30 and 1pm or on Saturday 26th June - at Yeovil Farmer’s Market at the top of Middle Street, Yeovil. 9am - 1pm.


www.cupcakegarden.co.uk. Tel 01460 75969 / 07779 593351 for other markets.


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