Harting Primary School: A Mothering Sunday tribute at Uppark

Jenny Swatton, gardener at Uppark talks to the school children from Harting Primary School about “planting” ceramic daffodils. 
Sean Killick from BBC South Today interviews one of 120 pupils who each made a ceramic daffodil inspired by the Tower of London poppies, for Mothering Sunday.

Now this was a great idea…

…how could we not get involved? Fiona Mullet, Head Teacher at Harting Primary school met with me several weeks ago and said:

I’ve got a great idea for a project – actually it came from a supply teacher…

Time wasn’t really on our side and we gave ourselves a tight deadline, we even considered ceramic tulips but we decided Mothering Sunday was the aim and making clay daffodils…the game, and I’m so pleased we did.

BBC South Today new reporter Sean Killick interviews school children from Harting Primary School

More coverage on Uppark House and Garden facebook page

If you’d like to see the daffodils, they’ll be in place until Easter.

Head Teacher at Harting Primary School Fiona Mullet and Jenny Swatton from the garden team at Uppark help the school “plant” the daffodils.

Photos taken by Andy Lewis, Lou Washington and Kirsty Brown.

Simon Parkin from ITV Meridian also filmed a feature on the daffodils as well as the weather forecast on the South meadow.

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!

Grand Tour Flowers at Uppark 7-11 July

Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ recently planted up as part of the floral display outside our ticket office. Below Lilium ‘Dimension’ cultivated in the garden at Uppark and featured in one of the displays. 

We’re looking forward to welcoming groups over the next few days as we celebrate our ‘Grand Tour‘ theme this year. The groups will be creating floral arrangements  for display in the house and these colourful creations will be on show for visitors to enjoy in Uppark House between 7-11 July.

We’ll take you on a  floral journey leaving England’s green and pleasant land. You’ll travel to France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Greece. Children from Harting and Ditcham Park schools together with other groups including local greenhouse company Alitex, will be helping us tell this fascinating story of travel and culture. (Above and below Harting School children get stuck into some flower arranging with the help from garden volunteer Judy)

A Long December…

Along the Dairy Border…

A long haired Jo

A long line of Violinists…

Along comes the moon…

A long line of lights…

A long shutter speed…

Along the drive…

Along comes a Soloist…

Fancy a trip to Harting School?

Come on then…..

The hedge is looking sad. Let’s mend the dead hedge, what with?

You tell me, it’s got black buds: Hazel, Willow, Oak. Good effort – same number of letters? Ash? Perfect!

Why I love Ash trees, light canopies, what are canopies? All the leaves together, light shade for Ash.

Talk about firewood and burning in the green, what’s that?

No need to season wood, just dry it – letting wood dry in the sun for six months or more.

Talk of dull woodlands and cutting down trees, it’s not all bad you see, it’s good for wildlife, Butterflies especially.

Our work is done and the dead hedge looks lifelike, but it’s still dead.

An empty van, the kids pile in: can we have a ride round the playground…. pleeease?!

Sorry no, Mr Culley might be asking me some awkward questions and I might not have the answers…..

We plot new adventures at Uppark: Den building and a bonfire? I can hardly wait!

You can see where we’ve been opening up the woodland: viewpoint restoration and great for wildlife – come and see for yourself in March!

 

 

What a Lovely Day For…..

….Having a bonfire

This is a result of clearing work around our productive area in preparation for growing vegetables later this year – once the soil warms up! The Cherry Laurels have been tamed and we’ve also now got a fabulous view across the meadow. The area is currently being used as a nursery bed for perennials but once these have been re-homed, we’ll get on with our plans!

How to light a bonfire: matches, newspaper, cardboard, fallen deadwood – plenty around after this week! dried clippings/pruned material and patience. Sometimes you just have to get down on your knees and pray, while you’re down there, see if you can give the flames a bit of a blow; it’s known as the eye-brown singeing technique!

How to maintain a bonfire: get the heat there and keep it there, I stripped the foliage from the laurels until I was satisfied there was sufficient heat to burn the green material.

It also helps if the bonfire fodder is not soaking wet!

Have a look at these images of Marshmallow Heaven

The best bit? getting it going again the next day……