This work not only preserves the health and stability of the moat banks and waterway, keeping them balanced and thriving, but also supports the success of the surrounding ecology that relies on these spaces.
With preparations for the Illuminated Garden Trail well underway, the garden team is hard at work getting the necessary areas of the garden ready. Our top priority is cutting back the Main Borders, completing border edits, lifting and dividing perennials, and introducing new plantings. We aim to begin bulb planting in this border by the end of October. At the same time, we’re also pruning and training the roses and shrubs along the wires at the back of these borders. All of this is in preparation for this year’s Walled Garden IGT installation—stay tuned!
This month, we’ve been busy taking cuttings of various tender perennials. Once they’ve rooted and been potted on, they’ll overwinter in our warm glasshouse, ready for use next spring. We’ve taken around 450 cuttings, many of which will feature in pot displays or the bedding pockets throughout the Walled Garden. Additionally, we’re direct sowing hardy annuals like Larkspur, hoping for a good overwintering survival rate, as long as conditions aren’t too wet. We’re also pricking out and potting hardy annuals and biennials, ready for planting in November or February/March. Tender plants, such as Salvia confertiflora, cannas, and our arid trough, are being lifted and transferred to the glasshouses for overwintering.
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3 June 2025
Ed’s Incredible Marathon
Edward Tollemache took on the gruelling 250km Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert to raise funds for the pioneering Cambridge Children’s Hospital. We sat down with him to hear first-hand about the highs, lows and sheer endurance of his extraordinary challenge.
23 May 2025
May Garden Focus
This month has seen us getting on top of much of the “pre-opening” work, including – but not limited to – turfing.