PUBLIC PLACES


Modern touches include choosing plants and schemes that will cope with the unpredictable seasons that we


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experience now, and I’m considering whether wildflowers would work better than the grass


Originally designed to grow exotic produce, the walled gardens were restyled by the council as Old English Gardens


Frames for exotic fruit such as pineapples can still be seen in the nursery garden


for civil ceremonies, and pathways and flowerbeds are gradually being reinstated alongside one wall which is a major restoration project, originally being double layer with heating pipes installed to protect tender plants. “We’re leaving the lawns a little longer so that they can withstand the extra footfall from wedding guests and, in the parkland areas, I’m also planning to move from overall close mowing to cutting pathways through longer grass,” says Anna. “We’re constantly looking at methods that will also save labour and allow us to focus on restoration work,” she explains. “Modern touches include choosing plants and schemes that will cope with the unpredictable seasons that we experience now - the border will feature drought resistant plants, and I’m considering whether wildflowers would work better than the grass that currently separates the box on the parterre.”


People can see that we are replacing and repairing important


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features, but we do have an important job to do in educating them


Newly renovated wall in the Old English Garden - head gardener Anna Morrison has designed a new herbaceous border to replace plantings taken out during its repair


104 PC June/July 2019


“It’s so much easier now the teams have merged so we can work on projects together,” she explained. “We’re all chainsaw trained now, for example, so we’ve been able to get through more tree work this winter.”


Anna has seen considerable interest in the ongoing work from regular visitors to the estate, and believes that will lead to increased respect and appreciation for the landscape. “People can see that we are replacing and repairing important features, but we do have an important job to do in educating them.” With a background in fundraising and community engagement, Gill is keen to get local groups on board, and a partnership with the Elvaston Parish Plan Group has led to the development of a sensory garden within the walls. “We replaced some of the slippery York stone with gravel paths and ensured it was accessible, and the group raised funds and


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