It's Friday so once again I'm joining in with Amy
at Love Made my Home for this week's Five on Friday.
On the Longshaw Estate near Hathersage in Derbyshire, behind the Lodge and tea rooms, there is a small but wonderful walled kitchen garden. It is almost a secret garden hidden away. It shows how you can garden at the height of 331 metres (1084 ft) above sea level. From near the tea rooms you can see across to Higger Tor and the ancient iron age hill fort site of Carl Wark.
We wandered around taking in all the lovely plants and vegetables that were growing there and the innovative and interesting way they had been planted.
All the produce is used by their own cooks on site and the garden is maintained by a group of volunteers who work there every Thursday.
There were hand written poems and quotes in the garden
Below are five photos of things that delighted our eyes
1. The vibrant mix of flowers in the flower garden
2. Small apples on the apple trees.
3. Masses of Comfrey growing all around the edges of the garden which is used as a fertiliser for the produce.
4. A lovely carved wooden bench set against the grey stone wall.
5. Loads of bees on the cornflowers but I didn't see any butterflies.
We wandered around taking in all the lovely plants and vegetables that were growing there and the innovative and interesting way they had been planted.
All the produce is used by their own cooks on site and the garden is maintained by a group of volunteers who work there every Thursday.
There were hand written poems and quotes in the garden
Below are five photos of things that delighted our eyes
2. Small apples on the apple trees.
3. Masses of Comfrey growing all around the edges of the garden which is used as a fertiliser for the produce.
4. A lovely carved wooden bench set against the grey stone wall.
5. Loads of bees on the cornflowers but I didn't see any butterflies.
There was also an area where you could donate your old plant pots and take plant cuttings for a small donation. I thinks this was popular as the table was almost empty of plants.
I hope, wherever you are, you have a lovely weekend.
Click on the link below to find other bloggers who are joining in with
I hope, wherever you are, you have a lovely weekend.
What a lovely Post. I love Rudyard Kiplings poem. What a good idea to have a plant donations table. Beautiful flowers and fruit. Have a good weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteWe have loads of old pots we could have donated had we known, perhaps next time we visit:)
Delete"hardly fit to trust with anything that grows". Yep - that's me. I like to look at gardens though.
ReplyDeleteHeHe - a bit of me too now as I find our heavy clay soil so dificult to cultivate I stick to the pots, weeding and sitting and enjoying it, plus other gardens too:)
DeleteWhat a great place to visit, I could happily wander around there for an hour or two. Love the garden as restaurant quote.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely tranquil place. Our garden is certainly a restaurant for all the different creatures, I'm wondering which one took all my blueberries and left them uneaten because they weren't ripe enough to digest:)
DeleteThis is such an idyllic place to visit. Such a lovely garden with the different plants. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Pat xx
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely time, we had met some friends and were wisked off from there to lunch at their home and to look at their equally lovely garden:)
DeleteI want to go there. Maybe I'd be inspired to become more than the one "who sifts loam".
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very inspiring and entirely run by volunteers:)
DeleteGreat post and how wonderful is that bench
ReplyDeleteThe bench is wonderful isn't it? I tried to find out who carved it but didn't find anything either in leaflets or online:)
DeleteIt is a life-long dream of mine to have a walled garden, loved your photos and the poem.
ReplyDeleteThere is something rather wonderful about a walled garden isn't there? Sheltered from the rest of the world almost like a little world of its own:)
DeleteWhat a beautiful garden and such a great idea with the cuttings. The bench was stunning. Did you try the restaurant?
ReplyDeleteI have eaten there before with my sister but on this occasion we were meeting friends and going on to their home nearby for lunch:)
DeleteI would be so happy to spend an afternoon in such a place. I like the Kipling poem!
ReplyDeleteThe poem is great isn't it? I hadn't come across it before. It is a lovely place to rest awhile:)
DeleteWhat a lovely kitchen garden! I want one! :) Kipling had the right words.
ReplyDeleteI wish it were my garden too but then I would need some of the volunteers to helpt maintain it:)
DeleteI do love the way many of these well-visited places are gardened for birds, animals and insects as well as people (as the quotation tells us). I like Kipling's quotation, too. It does look a lovely place to wander around (particularly at this time of year).
ReplyDeleteThe bees were buzzing and the birds were singing in the trees over the wall. It was warm enough for butterflies but I didn't see any. Nevertheless it was a beautiful place. It is interesting just to see how planting is done in ingenious ways and what crops are doing well:)
DeleteWhat lovely pictures! I do want to visit this place, it's on my long list - you've inspired me to move it further up, especially as it's not too far from us!
ReplyDeleteIt is about an hour away for us but we were meeting friends there who live nearby. We have walked a few times at the Longshaw Estate with my sister who also lives not too far away but had never been into the walled garden before:)
DeleteThis is a lovely post Rosie, the National Trust are great aren't they? The donate your plant pots and take a cutting table is a fab idea. This looks like a lovely spot and the picture of the apples gives me hope for mine, they are about the same size. Have a lovely weekend xx
ReplyDeleteI love to see apples ripening on the trees. I love the donating plant pots idea and also to be able to take a cutting for a few pence. We have loads of old pots so next time we go we can put some in the car and leave them there:)
DeleteThanks for sharing this wonderful place, Rosie...glass greenhouses, gorgeous flowers and fruit, a truly lovely carved bench and interesting quotes, too :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed visiting the garden with me Gracie:)
DeleteLove the idea of bringing pots and taking plants. wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good idea isn't it:)
DeleteThis is a wonderful place! I especially like the bench.
ReplyDeleteIt is a special place and I look forward to a return visit at a different season:)
DeleteThank you for featuring this place. We've passed by many times and never stopped. The restaurant looks imaginatively run with the help of volunteers in the well-kept kitchen garden. There must be wonderful views too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful views from near the cafe of Higger Tor and Carl Wark. The garden is enclosed so you don't see the views but it is such a lovely place and so peaceful inside the walls:)
DeleteCornflowers! My favourite! It looks a lovely place to go especially if you can come away with some cuttings too. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey had all colours but the blue are my favourites:)
DeleteWhat a wonderful garden - lovely photos Rosie and it is so good they are gardening for the benefit of wildlife :) The plant cutting table is a superb idea. A shame though about the lack of butterflies - will be interesting eventually to see the results of the Big Butterfly Count.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the butterflies appeared later in the day when it got much warmer. I could imagine them fluttering around the garden. At home we have just moved an old fence panel from beside our shed and found two orange underwing moths lurking, one flew off the other stayed behind. I hope they find a new hidey-hole:)
DeleteI adore places like this! The Rudyard Kipling poem is so very true - there is something for everyone's skills in the garden. I would love to have that bench in my garden. Thank you for sharing Rosie. I am uplifted by your photos! x
ReplyDeleteIt's a great bench isn't it? I liked the poem too. Glad you enjoyed the photos, Simone:)
DeleteAnd now your secret walled garden is no secret anymore! Another destination for my wish list.
ReplyDeleteThe words 'no secret anymore' remind me of a sixties song somewhere in the back of my mind. It is a lovely place to visit with loads of walks across the beautiful Derbyshire countryside:)
DeleteWhat a fabulous place! I love that definition of "Garden". It'll have to go on my list. Thanks, Rosie. x
ReplyDeleteIt is only a small garden but so well kept and surrounded by wonderful countryside:)
Delete