Public Places
trees, many of them in memoriam. It is hard to imagine Queen Victoria as a beautiful and sexually active young woman, as our image of her is often prejudiced by photographs of her in later life. She is understood to have thoroughly enjoyed the ‘practising’ and begetting, disliked being pregnant as it got in the way of her ‘activities’, and found her children an annoyance for not dissimilar reasons. She was, by all accounts, totally besotted with Albert and, following his death in 1861, went into a period of mourning that lasted for forty years until her death in January 1901.
That said, there is much evidence
around the 350 acre site that points to both a contented and educational childhood; the Queen Victoria Beach, opened to the public in July of last year following restoration of the pavilion and bathing machine, being where Victoria became the first royal to learn to swim, followed by her children. Current custodian is Head Gardener,
Toby Beasley, who confesses that it has been something of an eye opener to see inflatable crocodiles being carried through the woods to the beach as visitors search out the ‘royal experience’. “It’s proved something of an attraction,” confesses Toby. “We had over 50,000 visitors last August alone.” Toby trained at Writtle College and has been at Osborne for seven and a half years, the last five as head gardener. His experience was brought in to oversee the completion of the walled garden restoration. He is supported by a team of nine who maintain all the formal gardens around the site. All other grassed areas are maintained by ISS Facility Services Landscaping, who retain two full-time staff at Osborne but, along with Toby, also look after Carisbrooke Castle; more of that later. Toby is responsible for the horticultural aspects on the sites and works closely with Andy Turner, South East Regional Landscapes Manager for English Heritage, who is responsible for the wider grounds maintenance
and arboricultural issues, whilst Alan Cathersides, the Senior Landscapes Manager of the non-departmental public body of the British Government provides technical back-up when required. Walking the site with the three of them, it was refreshing to enjoy their banter, but also witness their passion for the job in hand. There was much bandying about of Latin names for various shrubs, grasses, trees et al, as I listened on rather perplexed! On such an extensive site it is
perhaps difficult to know where to start, but it becomes clear that Toby has immense pride in the vast terraced gardens at the front of the house that are, quite simply, beautifully maintained and, in mid-May, were a riot of colour, with tulips still in full bloom following the late start to spring. Toby explains that the bedding plants are sourced from island suppliers as he believes that, having being grown in the local eco-climate, they will suit the native soil better. The tulips are bought from a supplier in Kent.
The grass borders have, until
recently, been cut with Hayter Harriers, but a few issues with them has resulted in new Honda rotaries being purchased. From the terrace, the view down to the sea takes in the Broadwalk. Either side, where once were manicured banks, acidic grass now grows which is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). There are two other SINCs at Osborne. In the distance a huge oak tree, which came down in late 2011, is slowly being removed. Toby explains that the area is so wet that getting machinery to it is proving difficult. They will have another go later this summer. To the back of the house is a huge
expanse of grass known as Durbar Lawns. Toby says that these areas, apart from vertidraining, are maintained much like sports turf, and are regularly sprayed for disease, topdressed and overseeded. It is here that concerts are held, with over 8,000 coming in to see Simply
“Toby has immense pride in the vast terraced gardens that are, quite simply, beautifully maintained and, in mid-May, were a riot of colour, with tulips still in full bloom following the late spring”
Toby Beasley on the terrace with a view down The Broadwalk to the sea beyond
The Terrace - tulips still in full bloom in mid May
Queen Victoria’s bathing machine JUNE/JULY 2013 PC 101
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