Winter 2008 / Spring 2009
CORNWALL GARDENS TRUST
NEWSLETTER
WINTER 2008 / SPRING 2009
Registered Charity Number 800887
Editor DFJ Pearce
Chairman’s Letter:
A satnav might have come in very handy when, on December 16th in freezing, foggy conditions, forty or so CGT members made their way to Viner’s restaurant to enjoy our annual Christmas lunch. Viner’s at Carvynick in Summercourt was a new venue for most of the guests but had been chosen partly because of encouraging reports and also because its location [when actually found!] gave an opportunity for members from North and East Cornwall to join in. The restaurant run by Chef Kevin Viner is housed in an old farmhouse which has been simply and effectively decorated. The rest of the area is now a holiday complex and surprisingly contains a large parking area for enormous American camper vans.
Once inside and warming up, we were served with a delicious lunch with plenty of choice. Crackers were soon being pulled, paper hats put on and the [dire] jokes were making everyone groan appropriately. The meal ended traditionally with mince pies. Judging by the appreciative letters and e-mails I have received, the occasion was judged a success and had been an excellent opportunity in which to meet old friends and make new ones. Jean Marcus rounded off the proceedings by thanking the hardworking, youthful staff who had coped admirably with all our different menu combinations, and she proposed that a most acceptable Christmas gift from the members to the Journal, Newsletter and Membership committee would be an offer of help, however small. Now, watch this space for Christmas lunch 2009!
During the unusually cold winter weather, Jill Carpenter has been very busy devising an excellent and varied programme of garden visits to well known gardens at their best and to lesser known gardens in interesting places. That is something to anticipate and we look forward to seeing you on these very pleasant occasions. Why not bring along a friend, possibly a potential new member, and let them see what enjoyable days out we have!
With best wishes for a Happy New Year,
Angela Stubbs,
Chairman.
Christmas 2009 dinner and CGT 21st Birthday celebration
Already this is being planned and Steven Desmond has agreed to present his lecture about Godolphin to members on Tuesday 8th December before lunch at Trelissick, Feock, Truro. Further details will be announced in April with the Journal mail out and further details of the AGM.
| ContentsPage 1 Chairman’s LetterCGT 21st Birthday celebrationCGT Website
Subscription reminder Page 2 Summer Programme Page 3 Summer Programme Vacancies - Help needed Page 4 Obituaries AGT Italian Gardens Tour New Vice President Page 5 News from the Recorders Group AGT Annual Conference Devon Gardens Trust Meeting Excess postage |
Cornwall Gardens Trust Website This is in the process of being revamped to make it more attractive, informative and accessible. We would like to see your contributions, comments or coloured photographs relating to the trust. Please send your offerings to CGT Secretary, Peter Fairbank via e-mail to: [email protected]
Annual Subscriptions
Members are respectfully reminded that subscriptions are due on April 1st. Those paying by standing order need take no action but those paying by cheque are requested to remit to the Membership Secretary at Sweet Thymes, Rose, Truro TR4 9PQ on or before April 1st. Rates remain at £15 for ‘single’ membership and £20 for ‘family’.
Summer Programme 2009
Friday 20th March at 10.30
Caerhays Castle
Visit one of Cornwall’s most famous Great Gardens in springtime to be given a tour by the Head Gardener, Jamie Long. The camellias and spectacular magnolias should be at their best - Caerhays holds the National Collection of Magnolias. The House and Restaurant will be open (reservations recommended by telephoning 01872 501310).
Wednesday 8th April at 2.30
Ron Scamp’s Daffodil fields at Maenporth
At this time of the year the daffodil fields will be in full flower and an added bonus is the view over Falmouth Bay from Rosemullion Head to Pendennis Point. Ron Scamp’s bulbs are known the world over and are of superb quality. Price includes a coloured catalogue. Jackie George at Penrose is very kindly providing tea and cake the cost of which she wishes to go to the Precious Lives Appeal.
Thursday 7th May at 2pm
Annual General Meeting at Duchy College, Rosewarne
The AGM will be followed by a talk from Mr David Hinchcliffe, Vice Principal, who will conduct a tour of the College where many changes are taking place. At 3.30 there will be tea with sandwiches and cake in the cafeteria.
Wednesday May 13th at 2pm
Garvinack Farm, Tregavethan, Truro
James Treseder, who has recently taken over this 3-acre woodland garden, will give an introductory talk before members stroll amongst the specimen trees and shrubs carpeted with bluebells and wood anemones before demolishing a cream tea!
Thursday 28th May at 10am.
Bolts Quarry Farm, Penvorder Lane, St Breward
and
Tregenna Cottage, Tregenna, near Blisland, home of Keith and Wendy Barwood.
Bolts Quarry Farm, home of Jackie and George Greengrass, on the very edge of Bodmin Moor south of St Breward, has wide views over the countryside to the west. The garden has been worked since 2001 with winding paths through granite outcrops, rhododendrons, azaleas and herbaceous borders. The sand school for horses leads to the outer parts of the garden containing a natural pond, a bog garden and an ancient gnarled oak. On arrival drinks will be available (donations for local charities).
We shall leave at 10.30 for a plantsman’s garden at Tregenna, near Blisland, where parking is very limited. We have booked the community bus (16 passengers) driven by George Greengrass, for a drive over the moor (cost included in the visit price). Tregenna Cottage garden is filled with unusual plants - Aralia chinensis, Cornus kousa, Senecio variegata to name but a few. The enthusiastic owners will conduct a tour and we will leave at 12.15.
Back at Bolts Quarry Farm at 12.30 Jackie will give a tour of the garden, plants are for sale, and drinks (as before), plenty of room for a picnic or St Breward has a good pub.
Thursday 28th May at 2.30
Lower Hamatethv, St.Breward
Lower Hamatethy is the home of Mrs Yolande Hall, Life Member of the CGT, with an interesting garden tucked into a valley with fast-flowing water. After a busy morning the other side of St Breward it will be a chance to relax with a cup of tea and cake in colourful surroundings. Once again we will be on the edge of Bodmin Moor in farming country. Yolande Hall endeavours to keep abreast of fast growing plants that enjoy a sheltered spot that is well watered.
Thursday 18th June 2009 at 2pm
Northwood Water Garden and the Studio Gallery, St Neot
Northwood Farm is in organic farmland 2 miles north-east of St Neot overlooking a sheltered river valley on the southern slopes of Bodmin Moor. The site has an interesting history, the granite building in 1730 having been a china clay processing house, so the garden has plenty of water via diverted streams and natural ponds, encouraging plenty of wildlife. Mackenzie Bell will be writing a brief history of the gardens in the 2009 Journal. The garden is a place to linger, appreciate the vistas and changing colours, especially as a tea is provided.
Also
If planning this afternoon event, you may wish to work in a visit to the St Neot Doorstep Green situated in the centre of the village. This is a community garden created by converting a land and river-locked field into a public garden and performance area, planted with over 1600 trees and shrubs.
Friday 17th July 2009 at 2pm
Tregonning Lodge, Stithians
Tregonning Lodge is the home of Jeremy and Patricia Thomas who tackled an old tree nursery ten years ago and put in a great deal of hard work after taking out the not-so-beautiful old trees. They have enjoyed enthusiastic colourful planting with a swathe of lawn going down into the river valley where the water table is much in evidence - I felt as if I was going down to Australia! This is the place to see roses from the Cornish Rose company in the right surroundings. We shall enjoy a cup of tea looking out over the garden and admiring the hard work of others.
Thursday 24th September 2009 at 2pm
Highcroft Gardens, Cargreen, Saltash
A late September visit to this 3 acre garden in the Tamar Valley where wholesale nurseryman Mr Barry Richards and his wife have created a Japanese-style garden, stunning hot borders, prairie planting with grasses and perennials plus a colourful selection of crocosmias and of course hydrangeas in their late season colours. Plants will be for sale.
Programme Organiser
It is regretted that Jill Carpenter has announced her retirement from the post of Programme Organiser which she has carried out most efficiently since 2005.
The trust is now looking for a person to follow in what Jill describes as “a position where lots of interesting gardens are visited and garden owners met”. This year’s programme is in place and Jill is willing to help the next Programme Organiser get into the routine.
Treasurer
David Oliver, Treasurer since the inception of the Cornwall Gardens Trust in 1989, has decided that it is time to retire. The trust is now looking for someone who is equally proficient to take his place and keep the trust’s finances in an even keel as so excellently achieved by David over the years.
Publicity
Keeping the Cornwall Gardens Trust in the public eye is most important and the trust is looking for someone with a background or knowledge of publicity. If you think you can help, please come forward - don’t hide your light under the proverbial bushel!
If you are interested in taking on one of these important aspects of the trust’s activities, please contact our Chairman, Angela Stubbs on 01326 250092.
Obituaries
It is with regret that the trust announces the passing of Donald Palmer and Angela Evans - two active stalwarts of the trust who are sadly missed.
Donald Palmer, who passed away on December 25th, was a founder member of the CGT. He served on the Council of Management as a representative from the County Landowners Association and was also an active member of the now defunct Projects Committee, where he used his local contacts to help facilitate projects being undertaken. This was extremely important to a fledgling organisation. He reluctantly gave up his active membership participation when he moved away from Cornwall. The funeral service was held on January 7th in St Marys Aisle in Truro Cathedral followed by an internment.
A long-term member of the Garden Trust, Angela Evans of Pengersick Castle passed away in December. She and her husband purchased the castle in 1973 and Angela then spent much of her time in research to establish its historical importance. She was always interested about any local history especially if it could be related to the castle and its grounds and her keenness and enthusiasm will be missed. Officers of all sorts of organisations from English Heritage, the local councils and the National Trust as well as the Garden Trust became involved in her quest. The CGT was able to help her recreate a medieval garden within the grounds as well as advise on other garden developments as she developed a garden trail with plantings from prehistory, crusaders, medieval, tudor and 20th century. Angela also created a memorial for the late Daphne Lawry, the former secretary of the Gardens Trust. To ensure her enthusiasm for Pengersick continued, Angela set up the Pengersick Historical Trust which continues to run the castle and grounds as she would have wished. The funeral service was held at Germoe Church followed by an internment.
AGT Holidays 2009 to visit GARDENS in ITALY
Gardens of Lazio and Tuscany: 17th - 21st May Gardens of Siena: 26th - 30th May
For a detailed itinerary and costs contact:
Polly Burns Tel: 01787 370953 [email protected]
New Vice President
The trust has been most fortunate in having the support and encouragement of the Rt Hon The Lord St Levan as a staunch member for many years, and in particular in his role as a Vice President of the trust since May 1996. In addition to his help and advice, the trust has benefitted financially from the income that was donated from a number of open days held at St Michael’s Mount specifically for Cornwall Gardens Trust, and the trust is very grateful for those donations.
Due to increasing constraints on his time, however, Lord St Levan has recently asked that he be replaced as Vice President. At the October meeting of the Council of Management, it was agreed to invite Sir Ferrers Vyvyan Bt to take over as Vice President, and I am delighted to be able to report that he has very kindly agreed to do so.
When Sir Ferrers stood down as Chairman at the last Annual General Meeting, it was decided to offer to fund the purchase of a suitable book of his choice as a small token to mark the seven years of service that he had given the trust as Chairman. Sir Ferrers has now chosen the magnificent three volume set of “The Studies of a Landscape Designer over 80 years” by Geoffrey Jellicoe. Sir Ferrers wishes to pass on his thanks to all the trust members for this gift, which will stand him in good stead as a valuable source of reference material.
News from the Recorders’ Group - Invitation to a Tree Study Day.
We’re joining forces with the Cornwall Association of Local Historians for a Tree Study Day in the second half of April. This will be organised by Loveday Jenkin of the Cornwall Ancient Tree Forum, probably at Lanhydrock or Trelissick. Among the subjects likely to be covered are: What Is a Great Tree?; Recording Great Trees and the Ancient Tree Hunt; Cultural and Historical Aspects of Trees in the Landscape; and The Body Language of Trees. The talks will be followed by a site visit in the afternoon.
This study day is open to all Trust members. At this stage, to help us decide on location, we need to have some idea of numbers so if you would be interested in attending and if you have any preferred days/dates, please let me know.
And, as always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to join the Recorders’ group or would like more information about the work we do - Trish Gibson: [email protected]or phone 01208 880308
AGT Annual Conference
‘Come into the garden…….’
Lincolnshire Gardens Trust will be hosting the 2009 conference from September 4 - 6 at Lincoln Hotel. Speakers include David Robinson on Joseph Banks in Lincolnshire, Beryl Lott and John Harris with visits to Doddington Hall, Harlaxton Manor, Aubourn Hall, Easton Walled Garden and Harrington Hall. Programme and booking details on: www.gardenstrusts.org.uk
Devon Gardens Trust
March 21st spring study day at Saltram House, PL7 1UH from 10 am to 3.30 pm on Looking Carefully, a practical introduction to understanding historic gardens in Devon. Please apply for tickets (£17.50) from Mrs Janet Anderson, Farthings, Easton Cross, Chagford, Newton Abbot TQ13 8DQ by March 7th.
John Kinross, a life member of the Cornwall Gardens Trusts has informed us of his latest book ‘Discovering the Smallest Churches in England’, which is a companion volume to his successful book on the smallest churches in Wales. In it he gives a county-by-county guide to the smallest gems of English ecclesiastical architecture which have naves of thirty feet or less. The book is available to CGT members at a discounted price of £14-50 from the History Press, Brinscombe Mill, Stroud. GL52 2QG and quoting THP ChurchesinEnglandNov08.
Excess Postage
CGT Newsletters are sent out in C5 envelopes, classed as letters within the weight limit of 100gms and, having been checked for thickness are currently sent with a 27p second class postage stamp. It has been pointed out to me by my local postmaster that, although letters slide through the slot in the post office satisfactorily, some may be rejected by the sorting machinery. This may arise because letters go through rollers to check the thickness and, should a loose corner of an envelope catch in the rollers, the envelope is automatically ejected and without further checking will be stamped as having insufficient postage.
Should you be asked to pay an excess (currently a £1.15 handling fee plus) please ask that the letter be checked for thickness. Evidence is that many of the demands for excess postage are not warranted!
and finally………
David Pearce, Cornwall Gardens Trust Newsletter editor, is happy to receive short articles of information from members for publication in future Newsletters. These may be on any garden related topic, technical, personal experiences, humorous moments, cartoons etc. Please send articles to Sweet Thymes, Rose, Truro TR4 9PQ either by snail-mail or preferably by e-mail to: [email protected]