GARDEI\ING WAYS

When Gary Webb isn't tending the grounds at Compton Verney, he enjoys sharing his gardening thoughts, ideas and dreams with others
s I sit typing, my famiiy are yet to wake, the brrds are arnving at the feeder, and the sun is ris ng on what looks to be another producttve day at work. people. I flnd l've become fascrnated by ihe memones & atmosphere that run through the typ cal Elizabethan

Oh but of course, I sti have a toddler to wake and nappies to change before I can even think of heading
out to work w th my secateurs & sandwichesl I spend my working days part managing the grounds

brick wal ed garden, the carved stone bridge of a Georgian p easure ground, or the Victorian ash path of a cottage garden all of these are living and growing museums, and I love thenr.

at

Compton Verney, and count myself extremely

fortunate to be able to help mainta n and develop one of

I look at how each garden was created, trying to understand why the owners, sometimes two or three hundred years previousy, went to so much trouble and
expense to achieve the r vislon. I get huge enjoyment from

the sweetest 1Bth Century landscapes & pleasure

grounds in Warwrcksh re. The listed Grade 2* grounds run to 120 acres these days, & their current form owes much to the hand of Lance ot 'Capabi ity Brown, and the passion of today's staff who strive to restore and reunite elements of the orgina des gn. 'Variety' sums up a typica working day, and l've grown to ike var ety. spend a lot of t me trying to understand the spaces rn whrch I work. (Personally, I can't help but study a gardenl) Wh e I have a strong nterest in new garden
I

trying to f gure out how

a garden was constructed,

and

what the finished garden was supposed to ook like (a owing for the fact that many gardens are never truly
'finished'). Occasronally, my knowledge is improved by one of those amazing documents known as a 'Conservation

and Management Plan'. lfind these plans invauable and

fasc nating. They they bring every4hing together, and really help put an histor c garden into context.
I try hard not to get too bogged down n history, and enjoy developing gardens, even histor cal ones, to suit our needs ln the 21st century. I am sure, however, that I

gn, I have been lucky enough to have worked in gardens that have been cultvated by g-onerations of
des

may 201.1

warw ckshrre

lrvrnq

61

Warwickshire'Yellow Book' Gardens

Over 3,700 gardens across England and Wales open on behalf of the National Gardens Scheme each year. The 'Yellow Book' entries are always interesting

gardens for gardeners - and include

some seldom-seen gems. Charities that will benefit this year include Help the Hospices and Cross Roads Care. The following are just some Warwickshire gardens open in May.

Monday May 2 (Group Opening 11am

4pm, combined admission t3, children free)

Earlsdon Gardens, CVs 6FS

Fascrnating selection of town gardens, from small to more fomal, with interest for all tastes, including a Plantaholic's garden

Sunday tl4ay 29, Monday May 30

L

Broad Marston & Pebworth Gardens (Group Opening, combined admLssion 15, children free). Some sma

butvery nterestinggardenssetamongthatchedhamletof BroadlVarstonandaroundthehi IlnPebworth

our understanding of a garden's past is vital, in order to make the nght choices for the future, espec ally when it comes to add ng new features. Without respect - not only for the garden, but for the hard work, ingenuity and enterprise of those who have gone before , I don't think an ind vidual can truly care for a garden, or get the best results from it. I like to believe that my interests heLp me understand what needs do ng, where, and when. lt m ght be when a shrubbery needs to
grow wild, or be regulariy pruned, or when a tree needs to be severely pruned, or even removed.

head gardeners. I particulary like the podcast produced for Compton Verney, which inc udes an intervlew with the

previous head gardener John Schuman, and andscape historian John Phlbbs.

The great thing about gardening is there is such

rlch mix of garden styles and forms. Wbether

employees,

we for

gardeners have specia st areas of rnterest; work as

or

volunteers,

or

garden purely

I belleve what s most important (and crucial to restoring or ma ntaining an old garden), is to understand a garden's design, structure and layout - allvital factors, garden's success. that ult mately determine

recreation and pleasure, we're all individua , and all of us - for better (or worsel) - bring something unique and very personal to our gardening Linked to my gardening, s a personal blog I like to
produce called 'Gardening Ways,'. This is a comparatively new venture for me, but it's become an effective way to

share my thoughts

and

garden photos, and it has

who

Understanding the structural elements of a garden path networkS, level changes, tree posrtions, viewpornts is key, lf you get this right, plant choice, tree planting,
lawn management, and developing one's garden further, will be much easier, and hopefully more in keeping. It is through our eyes and experience that we gather

become a great way to interact wrth other gardeners. l've

a steadiy growing set of gardenng'followers',

regularly pass comment. Do pop online for a look, you can reach me there and comment if you feel the need you're more than welcomel l'll be nipping along in this milder weather to visit one

most of our gardening knowledge, and I have been

lucky to learn from some wonderfully knowledgeab e

of the 'yellow-book' gardens promoted under

quirky gardening tale
:

the
in

National Garden Scheme. Do you have an unusua or

:""""""""""""""': i 0pen Gardens lnformalion: www.ngs.org.uk

to tell? Or a

garden

i :11:::::1::iTr:::it::1T:ririrrlir:::::::::::::rlT:::::rirt
62
warwickshrre living

Warwickshire that you'd I ke me to feature? lf so, do get in touch & l'll be happy to pop along & take some notesl Unt I next time, enjoy your gardening. I

may 2011