Summer Holiday Adventures

A post by former Assistant Gardener Jo from last year, some things never change…

So what are your plans for the next 6 weeks?

Well, we’d love to share the special outdoor spaces that we care for with you! And we’ve got some inspiring events for all ages happening at Uppark House and Garden over the summer holidays…

Just this morning I have been amongst swifts frantically darting and diving for insects in the meadow, watched a pair of Red Kites soaring elegantly and silently on the thermals – circling our majestic copper beech tree, and, while edging the borders, smelt delicious new summer flowers that delight the senses beyond belief.

The National Trust’s ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ campaign is a wonderful way to explore the great outdoors – be it the countryside, woodland, garden or beach.

And with the launch of the ‘Wild-time challenge‘ this summer (to complete 25 of the 50 things in 6 weeks), it’s a great way to carry out new activities with the family. Free adventure scrapbooks are available from our ticket office, and the adventures can be continued online.

Here are just some of the activities from the ’50 things’ list you could try at Uppark House and Garden:

Number 44: Go bird watching
© National Trust images

Number 2: Roll down a really big hill
© National Trust images

Number 7: Fly a kite (bring your own kite or buy one from our shop and fly in the stunning meadow at Uppark House and Garden)
© National Trust images

Find the full list of the 50 things here, or collect your free scrapbook from our ticket office when you visit us at Uppark or from any National Trust site.

The wild-time challenge can be for adults too…

Simply choose 12 things to do before you’re 50* from the 50 things list and aim to complete 6 of these activities before the end of the summer holidays! If you’re going camping you could try number 47 on the list: Cook on a campfire, then follow up with number 28: Climb a huge hill (local Butser hill is particularly good!). That’s 2 down…!

We’d love to hear how you’re getting on with the wild-time challenge. Send us your updates and photos to our Facebook page, Tweet us (@UpparkHG or send us an email (uppark@nationaltrust.org.uk).

Look here for events in Summer 2014

*Unofficial campaign – but such fun!

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 paintbrush 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.

Twelfth of March*

How time flies… on 12 March it’ll be a year since I started working as Assistant Gardener at Uppark.

What did I expect when I was offered the job?

Well I didn’t think I would be writing this blog!  I certainly didn’t think I would be getting involved in Garden Design.

So here it is – my Design Brief!

Client:- Quite particular about things being done in a certain way. Has taken to doing things slightly differently lately, with an emphasis on innovation; the client is the National Trust.

Requirements:- Produce a planting plan that’s an authentic representation of the plants and style available and popular between 1810 and 1830.

In 1810 owner of Uppark, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, a colourful and flamboyant character, was keen to hire the best garden design expertise available at that time for the garden at Uppark. That garden designer was Humphry Repton, widely acknowledged as Capability Brown‘s successor. It’s likely Sir Harry met Humphry Repton through his close friend the Prince of Wales.

Humphry Repton was a pioneer of his trade, he developed a design technique to help his clients visualise his ‘improvement’ proposals. Repton was also an accomplished artist and by painting watercolours with overlays he could show his clients an impression of what the garden looked like before and after work was carried out. He presented these in the form of his ‘Red Books‘.

So how does this relate to Uppark?

We have some great expertise available within the National Trust, namely Mike Buffin (Gardens and Parks Adviser for London and South East, and possibly Northern Ireland I’m not sure!) James Rothwell (Curator for our region and on sabbatical writing a book on silver – available at all good book shops in the not-to-distant future… I would think), Richard Wheeler (National Specialist in Garden History). Not forgetting Sarah Rutherford (External Gardens Consultant) who has provided some excellent support in the form of our Conservation Statement. This is our Conservation Management Plan and acts as a wonderful resource to base our work on.

Andy was keen for me to have a mentor and having previously met Ann-Marie Powell on a garden visit to Mottisfont in June last year, she seemed to be a natural choice. Ann-Marie is wonderfully approachable, with a natural flair and passion for her subject. She’s also great company, luckily for me she was delighted to accept the offer.

I had some preparatory work to do before our first meeting, this involved collating a list of plants that were commonly available before 1830 as well as soil analysis and providing brief details of the budget. This is very much common practice for garden design and a good starting point for me to understand the design process.

What am I focusing on at the moment?

Working with Ann-Marie, we’ve been selecting the plants that we feel would look great in the border. Once planted, we’re really looking forward to receiving feedback from our visitors.

So how do I feel about this project now?

My first year has been about understanding the job, getting to know everyone and of course getting to know the garden. The next year is about me stretching myself with the necessary support – wish me luck!

* it’s always nice to receive cakes on an anniversary, my favourites are chocolate, coffee and walnut and coca cola cake (other brands of cola are available!)

Birds at Uppark

As we arrive each morning, we’re greeted by the colourful display of Pheasants clucking their distinctive roosting call as they take to the skies in a chaotic fashion, disturbed by the noise of a car. They flee onto woodland banks, bare trees and the flint walls that surrounds the garden.

This year we’ve already seen Song Thrushes in the gardens, perched high in the crowns of deciduous trees, our attention being drawn to them by their wonderful flute-like song. They prefer to be under cover, this is evident as rustling leaves are rapidly flicked out beneath shrubs, followed by the beautiful speckled feathered bird, emerging from the under-growth.

Song Thrush at Uppark

Red Kite, Alight

Circling in the sky, or gliding in the dip of the South Meadow is the frequent, majestic sight of the Red Kite, an elegant, graceful bird of prey with a characteristic forked tail, hunting for unsuspecting prey waiting to silently plummet for its supper.

Last week, from the gardeners’ mess, Head Gardener Andy spotted a Tree Creeper climbing a tree in a spiral fashion. Then, when we took a moment to observe, a flock of 7 Long- tailed tits were busy feasting amongst the nearby hedgerow. Proof that, with just a few minutes of quiet observation, at this time of year, it’s possible to see many birds in your garden.

Go Compare

Why not compare birds in your garden and see how they differ to those found at Uppark? Make a note of those seen at home and bring that note book with you so you can go compare!

A Gardener’s Companion

When working in the garden, we love to have the company of the Robin, perching on our wheelbarrows or fork handles waiting to consume worms or our garden pests. These are just some of the birds the garden team are lucky enough to see in the gardens at Uppark. Once we open for the season (March 10) during your visit, if you see any others here or have bird watching stories to share we would love to hear from you. ’Go Bird Watching’ is one of our ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’!

Our ‘Cameras at Dawn’ event on Monday 13th May 2013 will be a great opportunity to view our resident wildlife which is set amongst the most beautiful grounds and stunning scenery. For £15 bring a camera and we’ll supply a full English breakfast – booking essential.

More Information: Uppark property office, 01730 825 415, uppark@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Truth About Mole Hills at Uppark

The endearing Mr Mole in ‘Wind in the Willows’ has been such a popular character for around 100 years. Yet moles can cause severe destruction in gardens to simply find their favourite snack of worms.

The attractive black, velvety furred creatures with poor eyesight – there’s no need for good eyesight in the darkness of underground, are solitary animals and extremely territorial.

Little heaps of excavated soil appear on the surface of our South Meadow soil every couple of metres.

Moles seem to particulary like deciduous woodland, grassland and farmland, where the soil is deep enough for tunnelling.

At Uppark we’re able to live in harmony with these rather beautiful (insectivorous – great word!) mammals. The mole mounds can appear in unexpected places and are a tad unsightly, but we use the beautifully sifted excavated soil (which has a very fine texture from all the moles hard digging work) for our benefit.

We find this sifted soil is excellent for making potting compost and we also use it to top-dress and repair our lawns here at Uppark.

Did you know?

The average adult mole weighs 113 grams, is 10cm long and the average population density is 3 – 5 moles per acre (I assumed far more considering the amount of mounds we find!)

Although I am yet to actually see a mole in the flesh – the nearest I’ve got is seeing small movements of earth beneath a mound), I guess that’s all part of the appeal of these rather beautiful yet elusive creatures.

A Sustainable Christmas

On a rainy day at Uppark, we made a start on the Christmas preparations. The garden department are decorating the beautiful stables using natural materials for the Family Christmas weekend on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012 – there might be the odd bit of sparkle…

Children will have the opportunity to enjoy a fun and educational journey through the stables before meeting Father Christmas.

We had great fun designing and creating decorations from coppiced Hazel and Willow and experimenting with Yew and Ivy; for our Sustainable Christmas.

With Head Gardener Andy’s great tuition and creativity, using natural products available from the woodland and garden we are producing some great things!

L-R, Andy in observational mood, Paul in his usual jocular mood and Judy, diligent as ever.

We also had the company of two very special dogs Maisie and Spud.

Our ‘winter woodland’ in the stables will be available for all to see at the Family Christmas weekend at Uppark House and Garden on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December.

Left, Volunteer Carleton putting Andy’s designs to the test 

We hope you’ll come and join us for some festive fun at Uppark House and Garden!

Right, Maisie looks on; below Judy and Jasper enjoying working with natural materials

First Aid for ‘Golden Rain’ tree

On discovering a young damaged tree in one of the picnic areas at Uppark Garden, the Garden team took swift action to prevent any further injury. ‘Tree First Aid’ was put into action:

First Aid Record Form

• Name and approximate age of injured: Koelreuteria paniculata (common names include Golden rain tree, Pride of India and the China tree). Approximately 3 years old (the first Golden rain tree was introduced to the UK in 1763 from China).
• Details of injury: Broken branch due to high winds.
• Treatment received: Tree retrieved from existing picnic area, root ball cleared of ground elder roots and potted into large pot with peat free, multi-purpose compost. Sensitive pruning to create a new central stem (branch leader) – strapped to cane with ‘flexi-tie’ to support injury.
• Name of First Aider: Andy (Head Gardener), with assistance from Jo (Assistant Gardener) and Judy (Garden Volunteer).
• Recovery time expected: Tree will convalesce in garden compound for a month to recover from trauma, and receive regular watering. New planting area will be prepared and tree will be reintroduced to the picnic area for our visitors once the appointed First Aider has signed off the casualty.
• Other points to note: For such a pretty specimen, the Golden Rain tree can tolerate locations where our native trees would struggle. Ideal for our varied weather conditions in England!

  

  Koelreuteria paniculata – a slender, deciduous tree with pink leaves in spring, turning to yellow in autumn

  

   

   

The Art of Nest Building

While out in the garden today a beautiful (disused) birds nest was discovered in one of the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) pots at the entrance of Uppark House.

By carefully looking at the build structure we are pretty sure it belonged to a family of Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) as they nest between April and July at approximately 2 metres high just inside the tree canopy. A 6cm hole and precise architecture is also significant to the Chaffinch nest build, being one of the neatest nests of any bird.

Made of carefully woven moss and lined with hair and wool, the female Chaffinch decorates the outer part of the nest in lichens (collected from our Portico pillars) and spiders’ webs to knit it all together. How amazing is that!

If you enjoy bird stories, why not take a look at these previous blog posts: Bank Holiday Departures and Bob-bob-bobbing-along

Bat Man Returns

We had the pleasure of meeting Martyn Phillis of the Sussex Bat Group and his 3 rescued bats at Uppark today. Martyn gave a couple of fascinating talks in the stables, and there was the opportunity for all to have a closer look at the beautiful nocturnal mammals.

Batman begins…

As you may already know, we have wild bats in residence here at Uppark – in the tunnels, roof, walls and woodland. The opportunity to gain further insight into these mysterious creatures was a treat.

Bats hanging out

I also found another ‘super hero’ enjoying some quiet hedge trimming (with a super cool battery powered back-pack) in the garden today. Could it be Batman’s mate ‘Robin’ or perhaps the ‘Dark Knight’? Nope, thankfully it is Head Gardener Andy shaping the Box hedges beautifully.

Super Hero Andy

Hedge-trimming at Uppark House and Garden

Martyn Phillis and his bats will be joining us at Uppark again in August. But in the meantime do take a look at the Sussex Bat Group’s website www.sussexbatgroup.org.uk and, of course, keep a close eye on the Uppark Garden Blog for updates, fun and Super Hero antics.

“What a Wonderful Job!”

I’m Jo, the new Assistant Gardener at Uppark House and Garden and what a wonderful job I have!

Well, it’s my fourth week here and I ‘m really proud to have this opportunity to be Assistant Gardener to Andy Lewis at Uppark, as well as working with Terry and the fantastic group of volunteers.

Volunteers Liz (above) and Alan (below) working with the soil

The staff and volunteers I’ve been working with within the Petworth Portfolio have offered an overwhelmingly warm and friendly welcome. Thank you all, it’s an absolute pleasure working with you!

Volunteer Rae getting to the root of the problem

I’m very much looking forward to meeting many more visitors to the ‘peaceful and tranquil’ setting of Uppark. The history of the property is so intriguing and the future of the garden, an exciting one.

I’m particularly interested in organic gardening methods, visitor interaction and wildlife activity here. The bounding hares, broody nesting ducks and the busy pheasant community are just some of the recent daily highlights I’m greeted with on a hazy early morning at work – how cool is that?

Do come and say hello if you’re visiting Uppark. I can often be found smiling and talking to the plants, but feel free to interrupt!

So, with ‘Spring in my step’ (Andy will like this one!), and a barrow full of mulch (and this one!), I’m off to ‘get closer to nature‘. Come and join us for a visit at Uppark, I highly recommend the weekly garden tours on Thursdays at 2pm and soon we’ll be offering a new short ‘Meet the Gardener‘ event.