Platinum Perennial Partnership
We are delighted to announce that we have recently become a Platinum Partner of Perennial- the UK's only charity dedicated to helping those working in the horticultural industry.
Perennial provides free advice, information and support to people working in, or retired from horticulture and their families, so we are very happy to be supporting the fantastic work they carry out.
Out and About
The Beth Chatto Team have been out and about again, taking our unusual plants along to garden fairs near and far.
On 28th & 29th May, some of the team went along to Helmingham Hall's annual plant fair with a selection of plants covering a range of conditions.
At the beginning of June, the team headed to Sandringham for their new event Sandringham in Bloom, again with a selection of choice plants and garden-related items. It was great to go further afield and meet new stall holders and customers.
Lucy, from our Education Trust, went along to Manningtree Earth Festival on Sunday 11th June to speak with visitors about ways to garden sustainably. Our wildilfe expert, Chris Gibson, was also at the festival leading half hour nature walks.
The Rainfall Rescue Project
The rainfall at the Gardens has been measured continuously since 1953, originally by Beth and now by the Garden Team. Initially, it was recorded as a practical tool for the Chatto fruit farm monitoring how much rainfall the trees were receiving. Measurements taken now are used to inform the work in the garden; knowing how much water our unirrigated Gravel Garden plants are expected to receive and when has helped to guide plant choices. The combination of a very free-draining soil and low rainfall means only the most drought-resistant of plants are likely to survive here.
Recently, Head Gardener Åsa was contacted by Rainfall Rescue to see if we would be willing to submit our records to their archive. They have been working with the Met Office to recover historic rainfall records from around the country to add to their large collection of data. Of course we were more than happy to help.
To find out more about the project, click here.
Summer pot displays
As soon as the risk of frost has passed, the production Team move the succulent and half hardy plants out from their winter home in the greenhouse, and into pots for the summer displays.
Beth's extensive collection of succulents are arranged at the back of the house in full sun and sheltered from strong winds. Pots of colourful pelargoniums are placed around the entrance to our Visitor's Centre and along our outside eating area for everyone to enjoy.
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