Garden attraction to provide inspiration once more

Garden attraction to provide inspiration once more

» 12th April 2010 «

A Norfolk horticultural attraction closed to the public five years ago has reopened.

Holkham Hall will once more provide inspiration for gardeners from Wells-nest-the-sea and the surrounding area thanks to a major redevelopment plan.

An English Heritage grant has allowed the site to repair and paint its glasshouses, one of which will how feature grapevines and other more exotic plants.

The exterior of the 2.6 hectare attraction is to be redesigned over the next five years to include eight "rooms" comprising of a mix of formal and informal gardens.

The changes will take place under the stewardship of new head gardener Tim Marshall, who helped make designer Piet Oudolf's vision a reality at Yorkshire's Scampston Hall walled garden.

While the overall feel and style will be similar to that site, the expert explained that Holkham Hall will not be an exact replica of his former work.

"It will be a plantsperson's garden, but also somewhere that's attractive to families with plenty of seating and interactive wildlife areas for kids," the head gardener told the RHS.

In other news, the RHS has revealed that a UK university is helping with a project aiming to reproduce the saffron crocus from its wild ancestors.