On Saturday 17th July the Black Pear Gardening Club members visited The Walled Gardens at Croome Court, near Worcester. Croome is a very popular National Trust destination with an increasing number of attractions open to visitors within the parkland. After so much rain recently we were all prepared for the worst but the weather was warm and it stayed dry so we could really appreciate the beautiful “Capability” Brown landscape surrounding us as we walked past the church to the Walled Gardens. Chris Cronin was our host for the afternoon and began his tour by outlining the history of the site from 1750 and how it was now being restored and developed. Chris and his wife Karen purchased the Walled garden with their house in 2000 when it was an overgrown wilderness containing ramshackled buildings and acres of brambles and weeds. They have worked on it since then and are opening it to the public for 3 days a week over the summer, in partnership with the National Trust.

Chris took us to the different sections of the garden and told us about how each had been discovered and restored using information from the Croome Estate archives. We then had time to explore more fully using the map provided.

It is possible to see how the walls were heated because one of the original furnaces has been left exposed. As well as all the plants growing on and in front of the walls, there are central flower beds and borders, all types of fruits and vegetables growing, a pond and a dry well. Some of the greenhouses have already been restored to their former glory with others to follow.

I feel sure that many of us will return often to see how the whole project develops over the next few years.

Our next meeting is a coach trip to Trentham Gardens on August 22nd Details 01684311297

Brian Skeys

Chairman Black Pear Gardening Club