LRGT Celebrity Lecture with Chris Beardshaw



The Leicester and Rutland Gardens Trust hold an annual Guest Celebrity Lecture the profits from which go towards our Education in Schools Project . 

This year's guest was Garden Designer and broadcaster Chris Beardshaw talking about 'Unlocking the Charm of Hidcote Manor Garden'.

Whilst Hidcote Garden is one of the most visited and popular gardens in the country, it must be one of the few gardens in England that our Chairman had never been to! Chris had visited the garden since early childhood and decided to design and build a Chelsea Flower Show Garden in 2007 to celebrate their centenary for which he won the People's Choice Award.

The lecture had been a sell out for quite a few weeks before the date and there was a cancellation waiting list. Chris is a captivating speaker and his observations and undisguised enthusiam made for an excellent talk. His horticultural knowledge and in depth understand of design principles stem from a thorough education in all aspects of gardening and hands on practice.



I'd been asked to take some photos of the event and had been practising using on camera flash.  Fortunately Chris was very approachable and had brought some books which he signed for people after the lecture.

I'd heard Chris Speak before at the Ticknall Gardening Club in Derbyshire and had been looking forward to hearing him again.  He feels strongly that if there is something in your garden which you don't like and and are not prepared to spend the 'rest of eternity' with you should take it out. I'm with him on this and am prepared to make major changes where necessary (especially to other peoples' gardens).  This had also come up at his Ticknall talk, I was sitting next to my friend and fellow garden designer K who works for many top end clients and has a particularly well thought out and lovely garden.

She said as she looked through her kitchen window into the garden, the only thing out there that she really wasn't sure about was her husband..........

Broughton Castle with the LRGT

I'd been looking forward to this trip with the Leicester and Rutland Gardens Trust for quite a while and wasn't disappointed. We arrived at Broughton Castle to stunning views, coffee and loos.

With those needs taken care of, we wandered around the grounds a while. I must say it probably ticked all the boxes for me.  The weather was beautiful too.

Broughton Castle is the ancestoral of the  Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes Baronets, of Banbury and remains privately owned.  Many LRGT members had read the William Fiennes book The Music Room prior to our visit which details his early life at the castle with his epileptic brother. For him it was a normal upbringing.  From The Independent 'This is an exceptionally honest, beautifully-written and observed memoir of a strange childhood'.

Herons feature in the book, stalking the massive moat which surrounds the castle.

I quickly switched to my new 28 300mm Nikon lens and crept closer, but I'd been spotted and off it flew.

Inside the castle was spectacular too, but it had a very comfortable, welcoming feel unlike other stately homes I've visited which set me on edge.

Our pleasant and very knowledgeable guide showed us through the castle, which was closed to the public on this day, giving us the extensive history of the building and family.

I'm developing a fascination for English Longhorn Cattle, they just look so lovely in a landscape, they're so impractical too. Their colours and languid approach to life appeal and that aura of strength.  This ancient panorama surrounding the moated castle was better than an oil painting.

I've put this last picture in for Mr Bright. They're Colchicum autumnale or Naked Ladies.