In May I went over to Horne in Holland to meet students from Clusius College. Over the last 12 years Clusius horticultural students have come over to Tatton every other year to work in the gardens for a fortnight and then build their own garden for the annual RHS Flower Show. In recent years it’s been my responsibility to manage and look after the students and the garden. By the way, the college was named after the first person who took tulips to Holland (Carolus Clusius)!
This year the design of the garden was based on a story from Gawsworth Hall, about the ‘Dark Lady’. Mary Fitton, from the Gawsworth family, is often believed to have been an inspiration for the ‘dark lady’ from Shakespeare’s sonnets.
The students’ back to back garden included a wall for vertical planting, with black and white panels to represent the tudor construction of the hall. In the centre of a decorative pond was a dark red David Austin rose called ‘the dark lady.’ The roses used are now going to be planted in the rose garden at Gawsworth.
The students had a great time when they were here. They got a silver medal for their garden, and enjoyed some great local experiences including walking in Derbyshire, and trips to Liverpool, Manchester and Old Trafford stadium – and of course, time working in Tatton’s gardens. it’s been great fun to host students for another year and we look forward to the next batch in two years’ time!
This year the design of the garden was based on a story from Gawsworth Hall, about the ‘Dark Lady’. Mary Fitton, from the Gawsworth family, is often believed to have been an inspiration for the ‘dark lady’ from Shakespeare’s sonnets.
The students’ back to back garden included a wall for vertical planting, with black and white panels to represent the tudor construction of the hall. In the centre of a decorative pond was a dark red David Austin rose called ‘the dark lady.’ The roses used are now going to be planted in the rose garden at Gawsworth.
The students had a great time when they were here. They got a silver medal for their garden, and enjoyed some great local experiences including walking in Derbyshire, and trips to Liverpool, Manchester and Old Trafford stadium – and of course, time working in Tatton’s gardens. it’s been great fun to host students for another year and we look forward to the next batch in two years’ time!
Pete Lofthouse, Craftsman Gardener
