Taking Flight

Evidence in the form of bat droppings suggests the lofts over the house at Uppark are once again accessed by bats. The droppings lead us to believe these are the Long-eared bat, probably the Brown Long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) and are more common than the Grey Long-eared bat.  Moths are the primary food source for the Long-eared bat. The bats can hover to take insects from plants and will then hang up to eat each insect and discard the wings, so if a heap of moth wings is found it’s a good sign you may have found a feeding roost.

Sue Harris has been monitoring the bats hibernating in the walls of the underground tunnels for the last few years together with Martyn Phillis who regularly visits Uppark to give his very popular ‘bat talks‘.

The bats are monitored three times each winter, once in December, once in January and then February. The numbers vary but they have found up to 6 different species of bats hibernating. These have included Daubentons ( Myotis daubentonii ) Natterers ( Myotis  nattereri) and whiskered/brandts/alcathoe. This last group are very similar so in a hibernation situation it’s difficult to make an accurate identification. These are classified as medium sized bats.

Bats need a cool and humid environment to hibernate in and the tunnels at Uppark can provide this, although at times some sections of the wall get a bit too wet.

Above and below Uppark’s Tunnels: Access for the bats is available through the tunnel lights which provide light and ventilation.

Although bats hibernate they do wake regularly, this may be due to fluctuations in temperature, the bats will move to a more suitable place, to drink or to have a snack if the weather is warm enough for insects to be about. They can also mate during the winter. All the bats in this country feed on insects and each species have specific dietary requirements so they choose different types such as midges to moths to beetles. If you’re interested in more information about bats than have a look at the Bat Conservation Trust website.

Thanks to Sue Harris for her help with this post; providing us with a fascinating insight into the secret world of bats at Uppark.

Taking Flight

It’s also time for me to take flight at Uppark. I’ve been offered a seasonal position at Nymans -  it’s a fabulous garden if you get a chance to visit and it’s with very mixed feelings that I leave Uppark. I’ve really enjoyed my time here and learned an incredible amount, especially about garden machinery. I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside a very dedicated team of staff and volunteers and I thank them all for the way they’ve made me feel welcome and part of the team right from the beginning. I would especially like to thank Andy Lewis for giving me the opportunity to work for the National Trust. Hopefully I will be back to visit Uppark soon and see how the garden is progressing. In the meantime I can keep up to date by reading this blog!

Overground, underground, Spring into Uppark

Everything about our return visit to Uppark yesterday was unexpected.  Of course we were immediately struck by its unique beauty when we visited a couple of months ago – how could we not be?  But returning was like a second date during which it suddenly hits you that this is the start of a love affair.  Spring has been stumbling on unconvincingly for some time, but yesterday gained a new intensity and that was reflected in a difference in light and colour at Uppark.  The greens were greener, the lawns were softer, the texture of the borders was totally changed.  Where our first time at Uppark was dazzling, now we were able to relax and breathe it in.

One of the great things about a return visit is that, having got the lay of the land last time, we were under no pressure to cover every inch again and instead could take it at our own pace.  Or, more accurately speaking, at our two year old’s pace which seems to be the only way to sanity at the moment.  So with this in mind, and playing to the amazing spring day, our visit was completely spent in the gardens.  Well, that is if you don’t count the tunnels, because it would be tantamount to child cruelty not to make use of the remarkable underground network that HG Wells inhabited as a boy, and which apparently inspired his Time Machine.  There is something very magical about secret rooms, and this part of Uppark alone would be a draw, with its bat roosts, echoey chambers and beautiful ventilation shafts peeping out at ground level, like giant walkie-talkies.  Its cool shadows are a total contrast to the warm business of the gardens, and a reminder of the industry at work ‘below stairs’ servicing the great house in times gone by.

But first there was important hill-rolling to be done.  As luck would have it Katie (2) had discovered hill-rolling the previous day, which she was keen to showcase, and the first feature of the landscape as you pass through Uppark’s golden-tipped gates is a hill.  We used the trail to gently guide us around the garden, but the largest chunk of our time was devoted to the huge meadow in front of the house which looks out over the South Downs.  Just breath-taking, and from this angle the house looks like an extraordinary doll’s house dropped into the countryside.  In a brilliant piece of positioning, the meadow is equipped with an outdoor toy box, which kept the children entertained for hours.  We discovered that Harry looks a bit of a natural behind a cricket bat (so my husband tells me).  And it was the perfect location for Charlotte to work on her cartwheels and handstands.  But the thing about meandering around Uppark is that you feel compelled to stop and sit in so many places, and each of them has such a beautiful new perspective that it’s difficult to keep moving!

By late afternoon, and interspersed with essential refuelling at the café – taken outside – we headed over to watch the final Punch and Judy show. This was something of a gamble since Katie is not known for her focus or stillness, and I was unsure how well a puppet show would compare with Peppa Pig.  But fairly astoundingly she was mesmerised, and was rewarded with an impressively convincing balloon pig from the kind puppeteers’ assistant. Harry, stayed loyal to Star Wars and went for a light-sabre sword, while Charlotte – girl power & that, but still a little unpredictably – chose a machine gun!  Serious ballooning.  Harry (5) later had a concerned chat to me about Punch being rather rough, especially with the baby (he loves babies), which made me wonder how much puppets have a real physical presence to children?  The girls took it totally at slapstick value, and were in hysterics.  I noticed Harry watched it very seriously, but quickly went into a social laugh when one of his sisters glanced at him, a separateness that I recognise in myself.  But I digress …  It was fascinating to watch the audience as much as anything, and an impressive feat these days to hold a mixed age group totally rapt for half an hour.  The setting, in a nook in the scented garden was also inspired and made it feel like a room tucked away from the rest of Uppark.

Although we hadn’t planned it, this weekend was the launch of the National Trust’s ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾ ‘ campaign, and  living close enough to Mottisfont to drop in for a couple of hours, we’d kick-started this the previous day.  So Charlotte (7, The Organiser) had already had a chance to study the booklet and set her mind on the particular missions to be completed in Uppark.  This was to be grass trumpeting and bug hunting – she had packed a rucksack and everything!  By the end of the day – and using a bit of retrospective licence – I was reliably informed that we were now 18 items down.  Some of these adventures are rather more ambitious/age-reliant than others – for example, making a daisy chain versus learning to ride a horse, so I suspect there will be some variation in how dutifully these scrapbooks are completed.  But for now they are a total hit, and list ticking being indeed what lights the older two’s fires .

Despite arriving not long after 11 we were dragging our feet by 5 o’clock reluctant to be leaving.  Katie quite literally.  Somehow time seems to work differently in Uppark, although the chiming of the clock tower is a gentle reminder of the outside world.  An absolutely perfect day to end the bank holiday weekend, and as we floated back home, not a single child bickered in the car.  Now that you can’t buy.  Thank-you to everyone at Uppark for creating such a special place.

Disclaimer: No payment was received for this post.

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Shadow of the Copper Beech

The wonderful sight of the Copper Beech shadow with Uppark House and East Pavilion (Restaurant) in the background)

Fritillaria meleagris  - Snake’s Head Fritillary in the South Meadow

The drip line of the Copper Beech – we’re extending the path around the ‘Crown’ of the tree. By cutting an additional mowing strip further away from the tree, we’re reducing the compaction on the rootplate. During the winter, the Meadow is grazed by between 40-80 Sheep, they seek shelter under the tree and over the years the roots have become exposed. We have plenty of other trees in the Meadow that can provide shelter but we’d like to preserve this stunning tree by fencing it off. We also cause compaction – just by walking around it; we’re just doing the right thing for the tree.

Yellow Rattle growing in our Meadow, Copper Beech in the background

The South Meadow April 2013

Leaves unfurling 

 

Bright Blue Sky

Yellow Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperalis ‘Lutea‘) in one of the Island beds

Daisies (Bellis perrenis)

Sapphire Anemones (Anemone blanda) in the tea garden

Violets (Viola) naturalising in the tea garden grass

Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica) in one of the Island beds

Siberian Squill

Miniature Daffodils at Golden Gate garden entrance

Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis) cultivars above and below on one of the Island beds

Emerging leaves on Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) along the main drive to the House

Hazel screen made by garden team from Hazel coppiced from the woodland  in the scented garden – East Pavilion clock tower (shop and restaurant) in the background

Buzzard sitting in a tree at the entrance to the car park

Reduce + Re-use + Recycle = Natural Play

Following recent tree work we’ve reduced, re-used and recycled tree stumps and trunks to create some natural play along our Woodland Walk.

A Life of Surprises

Gardening is full of surprises; sometimes you have an idea of what to expect based on previous knowledge and experience, other times nature surprises and delights in equal measure.

Last week, the beautiful late afternoon light drew my attention to this stunning Helleborus orientalis (the Lenten rose).

© Jo Crawford 2013

I carefully lifted the head of the Hellebore flower to admire the beauty within… wow! The dark cerise speckles on the inside of the petals looked like a tiny paintbursh had delicately flicked the beautiful veined white background – already tinged with a lime green watercolour ‘wash’. The inner petals, an avocado green ruffled collar, setting off the bright cream stamens to perfection.

As new flowers emerge in the garden, my sense of curiosity takes over and I feel compelled to rush over to see what has unfurled in recent days.

Light levels are changing, butterflies are beginning to bask in the sun, and bees will soon be frantically collecting pollen. I feel drawn to look closely at the detail of the plants that mesmerise such insects.

I would love to try botanical illustration; I’d like to study the intricacy of plants. I want to capture their natural beauty.

Above: This Hellebore cultivar is so subtle yet stunning, captured on camera by Simon Bowler last year in the early morning sunlight at Uppark.

Hellebores are great to propagate. If you have a friend with Hellebores in their garden, you could ask them to ‘pot up’ some seedlings for you in spring. Or, as Hellebore cultivars are great at self-seeding, you could collect the seed as the flowers fade in the summer, and sow yourself.

Mainly woodland plants, Hellebores prefer good drainage and some degree of shade and shelter. Incorporate leaf mould or mushroom compost before planting any Hellebore and mulch every autumn thereafter.

Remove any damaged or dead leaves throughout the year, and once seed has been collected, do a general tidy of leaves and removal of old leaves and flowers in autumn. New ones will grow back as spring unfolds.

© Jo Crawford 2013

Above: Naturalised in the UK, Helleborus foetidus, whose common name of Stinking Hellebore is not flattering or particularly appropriate. Dramatic yet subtle, the yellowish-green flowers look like they have been dipped ever-so-gently in dark red paint.

Snow arrives at Uppark

Snow Cat

Coade Urn in Snow

Barefoot in the Park

Coade icicle

A dusting of snow at Uppark

Snow Dog

2013: Back in the Garden

The team have really enjoyed spending time in the garden this week. Today was great -lovely and mild. We’re making some alterations to the tea garden and our work today has involved moving some Honesty (Lunaria)…easier said than done…

above Jo takes on the slope in the tea garden and wins…

above Jasper cutting back herbaceous material in the tea garden

Judy, preparing the area for work due to start later in the week.

Uncluttered Landscape

Walking back from a Staff meeting this evening, I couldn’t help admire the beautiful view at sunset so dashed back to my office and grabbed my camera.

I love the sculptural forms of the trees within the landscape at this time of year, come and visit us on Sunday to see the last of the Autumn colour and our ‘undressed’ trees. The House team are in winter clean mode some of the collection will be covered up, come and have a look, chat to the team and they will uncover the mystery. I found it fascinating last year as did many others. Relax in Restaurant with refreshments, saunter into the Shop and then when you get home, flop…your work here is done!

Overbeck’s

On our travels in September, we visited Overbeck’s in Devon and loved it.

Why?

It’s a fabulous location, rather like Uppark House and Garden part of the attraction is the journey. I remember when I came for my interview at Uppark, I was struck by the beauty of the surrounding Hampshire and West Sussex landscape as I neared my destination. Overbeck’s surrounding landscape is more rugged, has amazing coastal views and charming coastal inlets with wonderfully appealing beaches as you approach.

We really enjoyed our visit, especially the garden and the creativity displayed throughout. The quirky-ness of the garden reminded me of Park Güell in Barcelona and perhaps it was also the Palm trees?

If you get a chance, visit.