Gardens Revisited: Project Update

We’re now deep into the summer holidays, and both the flowers (and dare I say the weeds) are out in force, just like the many families and friends making the most of the sunshine when it decides to come out. It’s wonderful to see the Gardens come to life with that special summer holiday buzz. For me and the team, one of the biggest joys of working at Trentham is seeing everyone enjoying themselves in the Gardens. Whether you’re here for a peaceful walk or a more playful day out, there’s something for everyone at Trentham.

With Trentham open from dawn to dusk, every day apart from Christmas, we work around our visitors day in and day out. This is great because it gives us the chance to chat with so many of you, often turning into a sort of impromptu Gardener’s Question Time. Just last week, the team was busy filling up the Rose Border with fresh topsoil, and we lost count of how many people asked us what we were doing and why. The most popular question? What’s in the topsoil we’re using. Well, it’s a special blend of clay loam, organic compost, and grit, developed specifically for roses. I have to say, in all my years of gardening, I’ve never dealt with such a lovely soil—it was a relief given we had to shift 75m³ of it!

This is all part of our collaboration with David Austin Roses. We’re still on track to plant 237 new bare-root roses this autumn, with the herbaceous layer to follow next year. The new roses will be floriferous, fragrant, and, most importantly, ready to cope with modern disease pressures.

The new border will showcase a range of flower shapes, sizes, and fragrances that highlight the versatility of the rose, providing interest right through until the first frosts. We’ll even have some groups of the new variety released this year, ‘Emma Bridgewater.’

We’re also excitedly waiting for some new interpretation panels that will give visitors insight into our main Italian Revisited Project. Working with Tom Stuart-Smith, we’re aiming to reinvigorate the Gardens with a focus on longevity, sustainability, and addressing our current challenges. Once these panels are installed, we’ll begin our phased approach to removing outdated content, managing weeds, and so on—all with an eye to minimising disruption for our visitors.

But back to that first point—being open all year round, dawn to dusk—this does present challenges, but more importantly, it gives us the chance to showcase what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and why. As a team, we’re really excited to be building on Trentham’s horticultural legacy and excellence.

For more details on David Austin Roses and the special soil blend we’re using, you can check out David Austin Roses and Buckingham Rose Blend Topsoil.

Luke Bartle – Head Gardener, Trentham