Garden Developments

Due to various factors, the gardens at Achamore are in need of some serious work, from replacing plants to repairing buildings. Some of this has started but, as with all gardens, things take time. Don't be fooled by the instant garden makeover shows, that is television, this is real life.

Day-to-day activities for the gardeners in recent months have included removing gunnera leaves, tidying the fern fronds near the garden entrance, feeding the garden plants, dead-heading hydrangeas, clearing drains and ditches, felling trees and producing fire-wood, removing briars, leaf sweeping, path repairs, potting-on cuttings, pruning shrubs and cutting back the herbaceous borders. Several times already the greenhouses and conservatory have been cleared of dead and infected plant material to prevent diseases. Roses are being pruned in the hope of a fantastic display this summer and tidying is on going. All of the seating has been stained and preserved for the coming year and we have even had the first lawn cut in the walled garden after the ride on mower returned from being serviced. Work has also gone on sourcing students for this year, when we hope to have 2 students with us from April to September.

Regarding the developments, enquiries and e-mails have been flying thick and fast. It takes a long time to get accounts set up and information through, but everything is moving in the right direction. Bulbs have started to be ordered for later on this year, and any offers of help in planting them will not be refused. Bulb planting will be ongoing for some time, with scented bulbs to cheer up the conservatory, and many others planted outside in the gardens to add colour not just in spring, but also year-round. Enquiries have been made and plants traced with a view to propagation and sales. Benches and seating made from recycled plastic have been sourced and we may install some of these at the viewpoint, and therefore avoid the yearly task of carrying benches and picnic tables up and down the steps, and don't worry, they resemble real wood. A supplier of midge-munching machines has been traced and it is hoped to have these near the pond and in the walled garden. The gardeners are keen to have some golden pheasants in the garden and although a breeder was found they had recently had an attack by foxes and are now looking to replace their lost stock, although they have promised to let us know if and when they find a source locally. It is hoped that soon there will be repairs to the old alpine house and a refurbishment of the tomato house. A new petrol store has been built recently to comply with health and safety legislation and the unsightly shed that once housed a log splitter has been removed, the soil built up to level the surface, and a track installed to prevent the tractor sinking ever deeper into the mud. We hope to plant this area with yellow scented azaleas. A tender is being drawn up for the drainage, and it is hoped that we get a positive response soon as this work really needs doing before some of the other aspects of the garden can be tackled.

As ever, if anyone has any old photos, notes or footage of the gardens please let us know, it could be a useful aid and is almost certainly of interest.

The gardeners would like to thank everyone who has, and continues to, fund-raise for the garden, and we would like to say a special thankyou to Olive, who retired recently from her voluntary work in the gardens, your hard work was very much appreciated .