Flower Club – Visit to Tattenhall Hall Gardens

Our programme secretary booked this visit several months ago and also must have sent out a request for wonderful weather. Wednesday evening, July 14th, must have been one of the warmest and sunniest evenings of the year.

The two families who bought the hall almost 30 years ago have developed the garden from a blank canvas. It contained one yew tree and 1 or 2 larger deciduous trees but nothing else. The hall had been used as a farmhouse and the old area for pigs is still in evidence but now has an unusual hydrangea growing up the wall. Some of the group walked around the outer and wilder garden to reach the formal area. This contains a deep pond and flower meadows as well as many trees.

All 4 members of the households garden on a very regular basis for the majority of the year and even though they have designated areas to look after the whole garden blends together. There is a very thriving vegetable garden which is well used. The borders vary in colour from one hot red one to another with pink and mauve plants and an area concentrating on yellow and white shades. There was also a small wild flower patch which contained cornflowers in pink and purple shades as well as the lovely and more common blue.

There was evidence of plants which flower in different seasons so there is always a good show of colour. The garden is open to the public at least twice a year through the National Garden Scheme. The owners also open to groups such as ours. We were well looked after with homemade cakes and tea/coffee to end our visit.

Despite Covid restrictions now and last year they have had more visitors than ever and been able to donate more to charity. They are pleased to do this but also have great enjoyment in meeting people who enjoy their garden as we all did.

We plan to resume our monthly meetings in September. The hall at the community centre is booked for September 15th when Sharon Nolan will tell us and show us details of The World Flower Show she visited in India. We have demonstrators booked for October13th and November 10th. As we are in the larger room we should be able to welcome visitors once more.