A Visit to the Valley
Last weekend a group of us travelled to Yeo Valley Organic Gardens, near Cheddar. The weather was beautiful, as was the setting of the dairy and gardens next to Blagdon Lake.
We split up on arrival and spent three hours wandering around admiring the six and a half acres, with an occasional sojourn to the tea-room for drinks and ice-cream.
The gardens are divided into many different areas and styles of planting, from formal borders and terraces to meadows and woodland. The use of high beech hedges between the garden 'rooms' meant plenty of surprises around every corner, and the multitude of sculptures and artistic planting adds to the displays.
Obviously, we were all interested in the vegetable plot and compost-making area, but the star of the show was probably the gravel garden, which was stunning.
As you would expect from an organic garden there were plenty of insect-friendly features and habitats, and natural pest-repellents such as copper collars around the lettuces and organic slug traps.
A couple of people commented that they were inspired to make changes to their own gardens as a result of the visit and bought a few plants to take home.
All in all, it was an enjoyable day out in convivial company and a welcome break from weeding the allotment. Many thanks to Sarah and Jane for organising.
We split up on arrival and spent three hours wandering around admiring the six and a half acres, with an occasional sojourn to the tea-room for drinks and ice-cream.
The gardens are divided into many different areas and styles of planting, from formal borders and terraces to meadows and woodland. The use of high beech hedges between the garden 'rooms' meant plenty of surprises around every corner, and the multitude of sculptures and artistic planting adds to the displays.
Obviously, we were all interested in the vegetable plot and compost-making area, but the star of the show was probably the gravel garden, which was stunning.
As you would expect from an organic garden there were plenty of insect-friendly features and habitats, and natural pest-repellents such as copper collars around the lettuces and organic slug traps.
A couple of people commented that they were inspired to make changes to their own gardens as a result of the visit and bought a few plants to take home.
All in all, it was an enjoyable day out in convivial company and a welcome break from weeding the allotment. Many thanks to Sarah and Jane for organising.
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