Up In The Air

Olivier Grossetete 'Pont de Singe'

It was surprisingly warm and beautiful at Tatton Park yesterday. And it was a good job too, because artist Olivier Grossetete (who arrived on Wednesday) from Marseille, France was meeting the Biennial team to discuss his artwork proposal, ‘Pont de Singe’ (meaning rope bridge). You have to agree, his imagination is fantastic, because he wants to create the impossible; an elongated, wooden, rope bridge, suspended in the air by three, giant, helium-filled balloons, which will rise and fall with the elements.

Biennial curators, Danielle Arnaud and Jordan Kaplan are seen here talking on the bridge with Olivier and structural engineer, Toby Savage about the logistics involved for creating an artwork of this magnitude. 

Whilst discussions continued at the Golden Brook, something caught my attention in the corner of my eye. It was Simon Tetlow, Garden Team Supervisor of Tatton Park floating passed in a rowing boat. He casually moored up, disappeared amongst the shrubs and later joined us to offer his expertise and to answer any questions we had. Protecting the gardens, wildlife and surrounding areas was high on our the agenda, as well as creating an artwork that was structurally safe and sound, whilst allowing Olivier’s idea to reach it’s full potential.

Given the Biennial's theme 'Flights of Fancy' and with this proposal in mind, Olivier Grossetete reminds me of those inventors and mathematicians who created wings for their arms and constructed marvellous flying contraptions, all of whom shared the one dream, and that was to take to the skies. 

I would (seriously) return to this blog if you are interested in reading and seeing how this artwork goes up in the air.

Debbie Chan, Project Manager for Tatton Park Biennial debbie@tattonparkbiennial.org

Celebrating the centenary of our Japanese Garden

When we reach 100 years old, we get a telegram from the Queen but when a bit of our garden, namely the Japanese Garden, reaches 100 years we throw a Japanese themed party and get messages of support from the Japanese Embassy.

It’s been a bad year for the Japanese people so far, with only news to us of doom and gloom, so another good reason to have a celebration was to show our visitors what is so great about Japan. So against the backdrop of our world famous garden, we had a celebration of Japanese Children’s Day. This was originally Boys’ Day, a day to fly the carp flags, symbolising the carps’ journey home, against the odds, who then turn into a mythical dragon, an allegory of a boy turning into a great man.

On 2nd May we flew carp from our monument, our garden shop and in the trees around the garden. We had Japanese food stalls, Japanese Gifts and pottery, kimono demonstrations, craft activities and children’s games: all this to the accompaniment of Rochdale’s finest Taiko drummers.

The day was a fantastic success and gave people a valuable insight into the culture behind our 100 year old garden, so much so, our intention is to run Children’s Day every year.

Gardens are not only places about plants but are also about the people behind the plants and here at Tatton we are passionate about giving our customers new experiences related to the world of plants. So keep looking at our website for new and up and coming events.

Happy gardening.

Simon Tetlow, Team Leader

Antiques Roadshow Arrives!

The whole team has been busier than one armed bricklayers at the moment getting the garden ready for two very important dates. Thankfully the first passed successfully on 20th May with the arrival of BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

Four days spent tweaking and tickling the Italian Garden for one day of filming which will be shown in Autumn. I reckon it was good value as it is regularly seen by up to 7 million viewers, after digesting Sunday dinner and hopefully in need of some cheer on a cold wet Autumn night. Also, it has a healthy viewing across the globe and I’m glad to say the team and Mother Nature really shone. The Rhodos looked stunning, set off by beautiful lawns and late spring bedding.
The whole event went very smoothly, a great BBC team and the whole Tatton behind the day – makes you proud to be a part of it.

The other major event was our busiest Bank Holiday weekend for our predominantly spring garden. Getting it as good as possible was, as ever, our priority. I reckon nature has a big hand in it looking so good, but let us never forget that it’s the relationship between gardener and nature which is the real reason for it all looking so good. Why don’t you come and see it for yourself!

Simon Tetlow, Garden Team Leader

Still covered with a blanket of snow, with frost still picking out the beautiful tracery of the tree skeletons, Tatton Park is getting ready for spring. Under the snow, our Pinetum is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, giving many of our magnificent specimens a taste of their true homes: Bhutan, China, Japan and North America. It was originally the only way people could experience the four corners of the globe and even still, it has lost none of its charm and magic to see stately pines, laden with snow sparkling under a low winter sun.
With a thaw slowly taking place another special experience awaits the visitor at Tatton. The sweet delicate perfumes of winter shrubs start to fill the air. As you walk out of the Tower Garden, through Tower Wood, the spidery petals of the Witch Hazels are starting to give out their smell. Both Hammamellis mollis and intermedia will be at their very best in a week or two. Wafting through the air also is the smell of Mahonia x media, a sweet and strong smell so loved by the hardiest of bees.
Another cracking small shrub for this time of year is the sweet-smelling Sarcocca hookeriana, whose tiny white flowers with pink anthers pack a heady punch on these still, frosty days. I couldn't not mention Calicarpa bodinieri 'Profusion' whose steely violet berries leap out of our L border for visitors who, along with all the other berries and fruits in the garden, maintains a great deal of winter interest around the garden. And finally, don't miss all the wonderful bark colours and textures around the garden, including the ghostly white Betula ermanii and the knarled, twisted shapes of the Dawn Redwoods.
Tatton, more than any other garden has so much all season interest. There is as much to see as you want, whatever the time of year and we are always busy maintaining the garden for your next visit.

Simon Tetlow, Garden Team Leader
www.tattonpark.org.uk