Amateur Gardening – 20 July 2019

10 AMATEUR GARDENING 20 JULY 2019

The beauty of Beeleigh

W

ORK takes me to many

interesting and beautiful

places, although doing the

job often gets in the way

of seeing everything and, as they say,

“taking time to smell the flowers”.

Last month, I was invited to open

the new Alitex Conservatory at Beeleigh

Abbey in Essex, a hidden gem of a

country garden on the River Chelmer

near Maldon. It could well be called the

Essex Great Dixter, with several similarities

to Christopher Lloyd’s world-famous

garden. First and foremost, there is the

building, the ancient Beeleigh Abbey,

a perfect backdrop to a lovely garden

• just like the house at Great Dixter.
  Then there are the head gardeners:
  Fergus Garrett, who works tirelessly to

Great Dixter has its equal on the river in Essex, says Peter

“They have a huge

collection of David

Austin roses”

find the right place for new plant

introductions, a task which can take

seven years, and Chris Cork, who is

similarly quick to remove and replace

plants which, for some reason, are not

happy. However, there is a significant

difference in comparing with Dixter in

that roses still feature at Beeleigh, and

Chris has a large collection of David

Austin roses, both bush and climbing.

Anyone thinking of planting some

of these roses, and living closer to

Essex than the late David’s Shropshire

Rose Gardens, would be well advised

to seek Chris’s advice.

There was a fear that the new

conservatory would look out of place

amongst all that beautiful brick and

stonework, but the green colouring

nestles in very well. I can see visitors

seeking shelter from a shower in

there, and enjoying both the flowering

conservatory plants and cropping

section. Truly spectacular are the

long borders edged with lavender

and catmint, and the twin rows of lollipop

yews – and if you do visit Beeleigh

Abbey, don’t miss the fruit garden!

Peter’s tips

All photography Peter Seabrook, unless otherwise credited

with Peter Seabrook, AG’s classic gardening expert

Listen to

Peter’s free

podcast every

Thursday. Search for

‘This Week In The

Garden with Peter

Seabrook’ on

iTunes

The beauty of Beeleigh

Beeleigh Abbey’s buildings are a perfect

backdrop to a classic English garden

Alamy

Peter Seabrook with Chris Cork

in the new conservatory

4

Hand-picking is one way to

control the Rosemary beetle.

Alternatively, place newspaper under

plants, shake the branches, and

beetles will fall onto the newspaper.

2

Floating flower heads in water

put out for birds is a pretty idea

that is seen at Beeleigh.

3

Metallic-coloured Rosemary

beetles are taking their toll on

lavender bushes, and more help is

needed to reduce numbers.

1

Roses scent the air, and Beeleigh

Abbey Gardens have a large

collection of David Austin cultivars.