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Gardens update January 2021

The restoration of the formal gardens in the Lower Terrace, Magnolia Terrace and the Yew Garden was completed by the end of December 2020. The garden team have restored much of the historic fabric of these areas, opening up historic views and restoring biodiversity. All the clearing and replanting work has been completed to the design of celebrity gardener Dan Pearson. Work is on-going in the woodland near the Hall where most of the self-sown trees and shrubs have been removed ahead of replanting work this spring. After Hall Wood, the garden team plan to begin work on the Winter Garden and the meadow area in the east quarry.  The work to make Crag Wood more accessible and open up views of the surrounding countryside was completed in November 2020.

Charles Monk and Arthur Middleton were both great plant collectors and Dan Pearson has reflected the vibrancy and diversity of their original planting in his choice of his plants.  Belsay Head Gardner, John Hawley has picked out two plants, new to Belsay,  to look out for on your next visit – both can be found in the Lower Terrace below the Hall. Heptacodium, John says, “A shrub which produces fragrant white flowers in autumn and has attractive peeling bark which looks nice even through the winter months. Intriguingly it is often known as the Seven Son Flower Tree.”Clerodendrum, John says, “Some people will know it as the Glory Tree, it produce lovely reddish  purple flowers in summer and nice autumn colours.”