Summer skips by; it’s August already and there’s an autumn feel in the air. In the surrounding fields the harvest is well underway.
This is the view at the end of the South drive. A mature beech tree growing too close to a power line was recently removed. Beech trees don’t respond particularly well to severe pruning. That’s what was required here to ensure there was adequate clearance between the tree and power line. Compliance cutting is carried out by the utility company in this area every four years, in my time here, the frequency of power failures has dropped significantly; it can’t be a coincidence. The regrowth on the beech tree would have been regularly pruned as part of this compliance cutting regime. I considered this to be an unsatisfactory way of managing this tree so the decision to remove the tree and open up the view was taken.
Above: The newly created view from the end of the South drive. Take a moment to admire as you leave Uppark.
The head gardener position I hold here is frequently described by colleagues as “more of a ranger role” in truth I’m not sure what to make of this. I have such admiration for my ranger colleagues within the National Trust, but would never describe myself as a ranger. The depth of knowledge required for such a role is extensive and I think I’m only scratching the surface; I’m a gardener first, with a keen interest in trees and the natural environment. The woodland at Uppark holds a fascination for me and I feel the woodland margins, especially the areas that border the visitor car park are really benefiting from the approach we’re taking. Hedges are being layed by the garden team and the dark, oppressive, arboreal landscape is gradually being thinned, creating new habitats for both wildlife and wildflowers.
Below: Completion of a successful day of compliance cutting on 7 July 2015.
Garden
Above: The Wednesday garden and countryside team.
We’re making great progress in the garden, the newly opened cutting garden has been drawing much comment and admiration.
Below: Gypsophilla ‘Covent Garden’ flourishing in the cutting garden.
Credit here goes to Jenny and the highly creative cut flower team she’s assembled. At the weekend, I decided to work near the cut flower garden to see how much interest there was in this new area. There was a steady flow of visitors keen to see this lovely collection of flowering plants.
Above: An impromptu bunch of flowers from the cutting garden.
Last weekend, the South meadow was transformed into a “flying arena”, local bird of prey experts Hawking About put on a fabulous flying demonstration, it was great to see so many people utterly enthralled by this mesmerising avian display and skilful handling. My favourite quote from the weekend came from head falconer Kevin as the peregrine falcon banked around Uppark House at terrific speed:
Mind the windows!
I’m so pleased the house manager Sarah wasn’t in that day! If you missed the opportunity to see the falconry displays, Hawking About are at Hinton Ampner on Sunday (16/8) as part of their Tudor sports day.
Above: Image courtesy of Clare Seaman Photography
The last word has to go to the countryside. We’ve been making posts for a new dead hedge in the West copse in the South meadow (above). We’d like to turn this area into a natural play area and the new installation is shaping up well. If you do visit this area – please don’t move the hosepipe! We’re using this to mark the lines of the dead hedge.
Uppark Garden 