Visit to the Beth Chatto Garden, Essex

On the first sunny, spring-like day of March the Masters students and I went on a visit to the Beth Chatto Garden to recharge our plant batteries just after our trip to Budapest, Hungary and before the final push to the end of the academic year. We were greeted with a ‘pool’ of blue flowering  Chinodoxa sardensis in the Gravel Garden, which was so well associated with the upright golden-orange foliage of Libertia peregrinans.

The Gravel Garden at the Beth Chatto Garden, Essex

Chinodoxa sardensis and Libertia peregrinans, in the Gravel Garden

We had a great tour with Marc, from the Nursery Team, who explained so much about how ecological ideas had informed the planting and how sustainability informs their work, behind the scenes on the nursery we admired soils, mulches and compost heaps - all vital for plant production and the gardens.



Masters students listen to Marc from the Nursery Team, at the Beth Chatto Garden and Nursery; explain the techniques used to keep the soil mulched and drained

It was the perfect visit - learning combined with the beauty of the garden - we left inspired and informed. In addition being a keen composter I am pleased to report that we returned with the tea bags from our refreshments to add to the compost heap - Marc would be proud of us!

Dr Jill Raggett, Lecturer in Gardens and Designed Landscapes