New Season begins!

Iford opens its doors to the public tomorrow, Easter Sunday, for the first time for 2013.

It has been a very challenging winter, and continues to be so, with frost damage to stonework, and some structural repairs to the entablatures of Peto’s colonnades along the terraces.  The old Ash tree by the road bridge had to be removed as it was potentially endangering the ancient structure.  Most sad of all was the ongoing loss of our cypress tress to the Seiridium disease.  The search continues for a cypress form which is resistant.

Right now, the major challenge is the delay of spring warmth.  As I write it is 4⁰C. outside.  This has put on hold any hope of fully ‘planting out’ the borders for the time being.  The challenge is exacerbated by the fact that for the first time in 45 years Iford has just begun an historic corrective replanting to bring the planting back into line with Peto’s ethos. 

This is a major project, and visitors to Iford will see significant changes over the coming three years to Iford’s plant-scape.  Right now there is a lot of visible (exposed) work in progress as we wait for the weather to allow us to fill many of the gaps created by clearing large areas of the main borders along the terraces.  On the plus side, this allows a rare glimpse into the underlying structure of a terraced garden.

Design work is being undertaken by Alison Jenkins and as the project develops, we will be sure to ‘ name-check’ other suppliers and experts who help us along the way.  This is a very exciting time horticulturally, but we really could do with the end of this cold spell so we can get some plants in the borders.

Happy Easter!