Ruscus aculeatus Another unsuspecting plant I often see on my morning walk is butcher’s broom. It grows in patches as I walk through a once-tended Victorian woodland garden, cared for by the gardener of the old Victorian Gothic villa. A life that once was, with the names of those who lived and worked here known to me through the census. It is truly enchanting to walk through an old Victorian garden reclaimed by nature, following the same footsteps as the gardeners who came be

Uncovering forgotten paths, rediscovering history, and finding our way forward. Yesterday, I spent much of the day clearing a gravel path that runs around the back of the house. It had become so overgrown that you would hardly have known it was there. Grass and years of unchecked growth had swallowed it up, leaving little more than a vague suggestion that a path might once have existed beneath it all. It took time and a fair amount of hard work, but gradually the gravel began

One garden, many skills, and a tradition worth carrying forward. There was a time when the kitchen garden was at the heart of a country estate. Within its walls, the Head Gardener oversaw a world of growing and cultivation, bringing together vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers and an understanding of the plants that sustained both the household and the wider garden. It was a place of productivity, but also of knowledge, craftsmanship and creativity. Every plant had its place, e

Traditional Kitchen Gardener's Role The traditional kitchen gardener plays a vital role in the culinary landscape, often serving as the steward of heritage varieties and seasonal practices. This role encompasses not only the cultivation of vegetables and herbs but also the preservation of biodiversity and cultural practices tied to food production. Kitchen gardeners have historically been responsible for supplying fresh produce to households, ensuring that families have acce