Bad News. And shame on Pilkington Glass

The gates are now permanently closed

The Ormskirk & Skelmersdale Advertiser reports that Nippon Sheet Glass, the parent company of Pilkington has sold to a developer the historic gardens of Lathom Park in West Yorkshire which are next to its European research centre.  This despite being in talks with the Lathom Park Trust to give the gardens back to the local community.

A shameful example of avarice triumphing over culture and history.   Sadly, it will no doubt not be the last.

Good News - Productive Garden Restorations

One of the decaying glasshouses in the walled garden of the Apley Estate

Good news.  There are two new proposals for the restoration of walled gardens - one in England and another in Northern Ireland.  According to the Belfast Telegraph, the 'Listed glasshouses and buildings at the deteriorating walled garden in Castlewellan Forest Park are to undergo essential repairs'.  

And an article on the BBC's website the 18th century, 4-acre walled garden of the Apley Estate in Shropshire is to be restored after 50 years of neglect.  According to Lady Hamilton (the Hamilton family inherited the estate in 1980), Apley is believed to have been the inspiration for P G Wodehouse's Blandings Castle.

Hannah Carter Japanese Garden Update

The Beverly Hills Courier, which has been following this case since it began reports that an L A Superior Court Judge has halted the pending sale of the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden and has set a date for trial, 6 May 2013.

To help support the garden, please visit the website (link above) and at the very least  sign the petition.

The Laskett to be opened to the public

The Laskett, the famous garden made by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman is to be opened to the public under the Ford Open Doors programme. Sir Roy recently wrote this piece in the Daily Telegraph musing on the garden.

Bookings for the event which takes place on September 17 (and also features a visit to Kentchurch Court gardens) open on August 17.

Gardening and Knowledge

More dates for the diary.  This time its 17-19 September and a Workshop entitled 'Gardening and Knowledge. Landscape Design and the Sciences in the Early Modern Period' (the link will download a pdf of the schedule.) 

The Workshop is being organised by the Centre of Garden Art and Landscape Architecture at  Leibniz University in Hannover, Germany.  

The National Heirloom Exposition

If you want the perfect excuse to visit California in September, look no further than attending the second  annual  National Heirloom Exposition.  The dates are 11-13 September and the location is Santa Rosa.  Only wish I was attending!

And for the perfect accompaniment to the Expo don't forget to read Heirloom Fruits & Vegetables!

Garden History - informing conservation and management

The School of Heritage Gardening at the National Trust for Scotland is to run a course entitled 'Garden History - informing conservation and management'.

Beginning on 18 September 2012 the course will be run (mostly in Edinburgh) over 15 days through to June 2013, and will include talks, field visits and seminars.

There is more information here and for further details and a booking form, please email.