Barcroft Hall - South Petherton Achieves Gardens Accolade

South Petherton Achieves Gardens Accolade

Barcroft Hall of South Petherton has been included in the ‘Historic Gardens of England Series’ by Timothy Mowl and Marion Mako. The publication was launched at Montacute House on May 11th. this year.

Owners Brian and Denise Herrick are delighted to have their garden included in this publication which is one of forty seven specifically chosen.

Both are avid gardeners and thrilled to have Barcroft Hall placed alongside the many famous gardens of significant historic importance in Somerset.

The author states that the garden at ’Barcroft is educational in intent and ecologically underpinned and may prove in time to be one of the most significant and influential gardens in the county’.

Timothy Mowl is Professor of History of Architecture and Design Landscapes at the Universtity of Bristol. Marion Mako is an author and photographer specialising in historic gardens and landscapes and has a masters degree in Garden History, and they describe the garden as follows:

The house and gardens at Barcroft Hall, South Petherton, could not be more different. Brian and Denise Herrick inherited a relatively new classical house with embryonic gardens and have completely transformed the 8-acre grounds with a chain of lakes, formal avenues of trees, and a geometrically planted orchard. To connect these areas they have laid down 5 kilometres of footpaths, re-laid hedges and planted 2300 trees. What is remarkable about the grounds is that they already appear well established, even though they are recent and still being developed. One of the Herricks’ design strategies was to provide a wildfowl release site for the RSPCA; on our visit a recovering swan patrolled the lake nearest the house.

In the Orchard to the rear of the house nine different local varieties of cider apple are grown making the grounds productive as well as ornamental. Some of the new trees are soft fruit varieties of medlars, quince and plums, while the sweeping lawns are studded with weeping pear and silver birches;there is also a separate area of acers . A formal terraced garden to the front of the house has steps which descend to the first lake; this is flanked by a formal enclosure of pleached limes. But the most atmospheric sector of the landscape is further down the lakes, where there are living willow sculptures, a cherry avenue under-planted with veronica ‘Pink Perfection’ and lines of poplars which evoked to me at least, descriptions from ‘Le Grand Meaulnes’. Together with the local populace the Herricks are embarking upon a programme of ‘Vegetation Education’, in which the older generation will instruct the young on how to grow food on the land. Barcroft is, therefore, both well-meaning and intelligently conceived; it may prove, in time, to be one of the most significant and influential gardens in the county.

Pictures:

1. Historic Gardens of Somerset Cover ; ISBN-10: 1906593566

2. Barcroft Hall Ariel View

3. Barcroft Hall Lake View

Contact:

1. www.timothymowl.co.uk/books.htm

2. www.barcrofthall.co.uk

3. 01460 242141

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‘Everyone needs a little piece of heaven!’
This July and August will see the opening of one of the largest collections of annual wild flowers from around the world.
The Barcroft Hall Estate in South Petherton has purchased and renovated over 2 acres of abused land to create what Brian Herrick the owner and farmer describes as a ‘Field of Dreams’.

Frequent visits since 2005 to study the flora in the Table Mountain National Park in South Africa (itself one of the only six floral Kingdoms in the world) and innumerable visits to Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town and Kew Gardens in London have inspired both Denise and Brian to try to emulate and display some of the incredible biodiversity that is available to see in the world.

Unsightly buildings were removed and tons of rubbish and waste taken away. In the spring of 2011, the clearance was complete and all plastics, metal and other alien materials had been removed.
The road banks were rebuilt and new natural indigenous boundary hedging and trees were planted. The land was then mole ploughed for drainage, ploughed and harrowed to create a fine seed bed. Further clearance of buried waste brought to the surface through cultivating was removed.

Finally a mixture of 57 different flower species from around the world were broadcast sown at 4 grams per square metre in a substrate to obtain the best density of cover.

Annual plants were chosen under the guidance and supply of Clive Farrell one of the county’s leading lepidopterists and wild flower experts who runs the Ryewater Estate in Dorset together with many Butterfly World parks. Emorsgate Seeds in Kings Lynn provided seed and further advice.

‘The summer of 2011 will see our ‘Field of Dreams’ come true, promoting millions of wild flowers, creating an excellent environment for the butterflies and bees. But just as importantly a place where people can go and be at peace. Brian commented that ‘In the current climate with such strains on families and especially the elderly everyone needs and should have a little piece of heaven to promote harmony, goodwill and understanding’

A full catalogue of the flowers and an explanation of the project can be downloaded by visiting www.barcrofthall.co.uk
The ‘Field of Dreams’ will be open to individuals or groups during July and August by making a prior arrangement with the owners. This can be done by visiting www.barcrofthall.co.uk or emailing wildflowers@barcrofthall.co.uk.
(All proceeds from the project will be donated to St James Church, East Lambrook.)
NB: Photography can be taken of the ‘Field of Dreams’ on or after 29th. June 2011

South Petherton Walking Group

Walking the way to Health