South Garden – Grasses Parterre

I used the local Tithe Map of 1841 as the basis for a pattern of hedges in box on one slope of this valley. This created miniature fields which we’ve filled with ornamental grasses – in tribute to both the history of the landscape and to the present views of farmland beyond the garden.

View from Drone:

The Grasses Parterre is to the right and this picture shows some evidence of the major work we are having to do. You can see the hedge has gone from part of the top side. This was taken in spring, which is why you see no grasses.

Box blight was totally dreadful and beyond management this year. (we have managed it successfully with fungicide until this year).

So we are removing it totally from the Parterre and replacing the outside edges with Osmanthus burkwoodii. And replacing the internal hedges with paths. 

So – heart-breaking! – we will lose this kind of view:

But we (and you, maybe) will be able to walk among the grasses, something which was never possible before. Still very sad!

And the grasses will remain, unscathed (we hope – who knows what nature will throw at us next?).

Jeff looking as weary as he has a right to. Removing the last box plant from the Grasses Pareterre, after years of caring for them against the odds. He deserves a medal.