The Garden Museum
New talk! The Beth Chatto Approach to Ecological Planting in Public Spaces
Join us for an evening in conversation with Julia Boulton, CEO of Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens; John Little of the Grass Roof Company; Daryl Moore of Cityscapes, wildlife advocate Chris Gibson and Labour MP for Colchester Pam Cox, as they explore the power of ecological planting to transform the places we live, work and share.
At a time when our public spaces are expected to do more than ever – for people, wildlife and the climate – this discussion will examine how thoughtful planting can reshape neglected urban landscapes, streets, parks and new residential developments into vibrant, resilient places that are rich in character, support biodiversity, and foster stronger connections between communities and the natural world.
Drawing on Beth Chatto’s philosophy of “right plant, right place”, the speakers will explore how the ethos that defines Beth Chatto’s Plant & Gardens has inspired projects far beyond the garden gates. Moderated by Julia Boulton, the panel will examine how thoughtful design, resilient plant communities and sustainable horticultural practises can create public spaces that are both beautiful, biodiverse and enduring.
Tuesday 8 September, 6.30pm
Livestream available
La Mortella: A garden rooted in music and passion
Ahead of her talk at the Garden Museum on 22 September, Alessandra Vinciguerra, Director of La Mortella Gardens, shares an introduction to the garden in a sheltered valley on the island of Ischia.
“Few gardens achieve such a rare balance between landscape, architecture and botany that they feel not merely designed, but composed. La Mortella, on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, is one of those exceptional places. Created from the mid-1950s by the British composer Sir William Walton and his Argentine wife Lady Susana Walton, it has earned an international reputation for its remarkable botanical collections and the unique harmony between nature, music and landscape. More than a collection of plants, La Mortella is a living expression of creativity, where nature, music and art exist in perfect harmony…”
OGT member publishes a booklet about her former home ‘Rush Court Gardens’, Rush Court
Ruth Todd, a long-time member of the Oxfordshire Gardens Trust, has just published a booklet of the history of the garden around her former family home ‘Rush Court Gardens’. Rush Court
and its gardens are situated near Wallingford. Apart from two walled gardens, a river front, a lake, and a moat, the garden also contains the remains of a designed Italianate garden to the rear of the house. The booklet also includes history of the families who lived and worked in the house and surrounding area.
Ruth completed an MA in Garden History at Birkbeck University of London and has been involved in research projects for OGT for many years, including the Walled Gardens Project and CB300. As well as researching for OGT she is also a garden guide for Chiswick House and gardens in London. The publication illustrates the importance of research in documenting and recording gardens that may be completely lost in the future.
If anyone would like to buy the booklet, please get in touch with Ruth at abc123rit@hotmail.com. The book costs £5 + postage (approx £2).
From Fame to Obscurity: The Rise and Fall of Charles Bridgeman
A Landscape Architect of the Eighteenth Century, Charles Bridgeman (c.1685-1738)
By Susan Haynes
An examination of the garden plans of eighteenth-century landscape architect Charles Bridgeman, shedding light on his artistic vision and contributions to English garden history.
Hardback, paperback and eBook editions available. Imprint: Boydell Press
Jinny Blom is our
newest patron
We are delighted to welcome Jinny Blom as a new patron to Oxfordshire Gardens Trust. Jinny brings a wealth of experience through her garden and landscape designs from cities to deserts, from palaces to courtyards. Her vision is always dramatic but sympathetic, her designs working with nature (the world) not against it but deeply for it and her work ethic, honest and kind. In addition to horticulture, she is Artist in Residence for CW + Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as well as a member of the Therapeutic Landscapes Network and The Art Workers Guild. Jinny was nominated Woman of the Year in 2002, 2007, and again in 2013 for her contribution to society through her work. The OGT is extremely lucky to have her join us. Thank you, Jinny Blom.