18/05/2026
Scenes from a very enjoyable Spring Walk with the Friends of Parcevall Hall Gardens yesterday, led by Head Gardener Phill Nelson, who shared with us the failures as well as the successes the gardeners have experienced this year — very reassuring to us lesser gardeners! As well as losses from Ash Dieback disease, which have allowed for a rethink of the woodland planting now that more light is let in, the Gardens have also suffered the loss of some old apple trees owing to wetter ground conditions.
But the Gardens were in superb condition and there was much to admire, including the rhododendrons in Tarn Gill Wood and on the terraces, sheets of Camassias, the giant rhubarb Rheum palmatum 'Atrosanguineum' in the Red Borders, and heavenly peonies and Meconopsis in the Rock Garden. The video shows Phill explaining how the hard pruning of the Piceas had revealed some hitherto unseen water cascades on the limestone rocks.
The final photo shows perhaps a future Friend: children and dogs are welcome and both found things to enjoy on the walk!
The tour was followed by a well attended AGM, at which we discussed funding for new plantings and how accessibility in the Gardens might be improved.
Our next guided walk will be held on 17 October. If you're not yet a Friend and would like to join us, please contact [email protected] for a membership form.
