Gardens to visit
COUNTRY CHARM
Dawn Kingsford trotted off to Goodnestone near Canterbury to explore a little about the park’s past, present and future and caught up with its head gardener...
One thing that fascinates me about historic homes is the people who would have walked their gardens, sharing the same sounds and smells of an English summer as time marches on … and Goodnestone is no exception.
A family home (albeit a grand one) for
more than 300 years to the FitzWalters, with guests including courtiers,
politicians and author Jane Austen, it was requisitioned by the Army during WWII. And, as staff moved out and the military moved in, its grand 15-acre gardens would have been awash with soldiers, struck by their tranquil location but focused on the war effort.
So, by the time Brook and Margaret
FitzWalter moved back in 1955 - armed with the family motto “Je Garderai” (I will guard) - the work to return their home and gardens to their former glory was paramount.
Much of the work to restore the Grade
II* listed 18th century manor and gardens began in earnest in the mid- 1960s, and what we see today is largely thanks to Margaret FitzWalter, who has created what many visitors now regard as one of the most outstanding country gardens in England.
Its tranquillity, views, ancient sweet
chestnut and amazing walled garden, continue to attract thousands of visitors
Over the garden wall, with Paul Bagshaw
As head gardener since 2006, how would you describe Goodnestone garden? “It has a very tranquil feel, where the loudest noise is from the birds and, of course, the odd lawn mower!
“The gardens are horticulturally diverse. Visitors love
the walled garden, which runs down to the 13th century church, especially in May and June, when the fragrance of roses greets you as you.”
So where are you most at home? “I seem to spend a lot of time in the kitchen garden growing veggies and herbs for the tearoom and the house. But if I had to choose one place it would be walking through the wildflower meadow in full bloom with bees and meadow brown butterflies everywhere.”
What are your favourite features in the garden? “The Cercidiphyllum japonicum (katsura tree), because in the autumn its leaves turn yellow and have an aroma of toffee apples. My favourite plant is Tithonia rotundiflora Torch (Mexican sunflower), an annual cutting flower we grow in the kitchen garden because of its vibrant orange flowers, loved by bees and hoverflies.”
What time of the year do you enjoy most? “May, when the roses and herbaceous borders are starting to flower and look pristine, before they’ve been nibbled.”
What are the biggest challenges? “Keeping the garden at its best when conditions make it difficult, and trying to balance projects like creating a new herb garden with routine work like ivy removal!”
Visit
www.goodnestoneparkgardens.co.uk 24 Mid Kent Living Images; courtesy of Goodnestone Park
every year, taking inspiration from its gentle evolution under the family’s charge (The present Lord FitzWalter is descended from Robert FitzWalter who led the barons against King John).
It now includes a tea room and the 12-
bedroom mansion, which was renovated in 2016, is hired out for luxury special occasions, complete with its own gardens and spectacular views overlooking cattle-grazed countryside near Canterbury.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
