Topiary Garden

This morning we visited nearby Levens Hall Garden. We have been before, but many years ago, and not in such fine weather. Doable in a wheelchair, which is now the key criteria.

Adjoining the largely Elizabethan house these are reputedly the world’s oldest topiary gardens, which were designed and laid out in the late 17th and early 18th century. The overall design is unchanged, having somehow survived changing fashions - in part because the house and its garden were largely ignored by its owners who focussed their changing tastes on their other houses. Gambled away in a game of cards at one stage, the house, gardens and 9500 acre estate have been owned by the Bagot family since the late 19th century.

The gardens were looking very fine today. Clipping those bushes and trees must be a full time job for the head gardener. Just the right place to visit before returning to Holly for lunch, and then the journey back home. It’s been a good couple of days, and J has done well. She’s felt almost normal whilst she’s been up here.