Wakehurst is an estate centred on an Elizabethan mansion, which later became an outpost for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The latest blog post explores the evolution of these Grade II* gardens, which now include the Millennium Seed Bank: bit.ly/3TSYmSs.

The Great Conservatory at Syon House looked particularly splendid in some recent sun. Erected in the 1830s, with a dramatic parabolic dome above a cast iron frame, it’s listed at Grade I, and is the ‘first metallic horticultural structure of any importance’. #IronworkThursday

The latest post on the blog (bit.ly/3TJ7jxI) looks at two model villages with a strong heritage dimension: Bekonscot is the oldest model village, in a garden now recognised as a non-designated heritage asset, whilst Bourton-on-the-Water is listed at Grade II.

Reinforced concrete is one of the most common building materials, but did you know that its origins lie partly in flowerpots? Joseph Monier, a C19 French gardener, needed more robust pots, and experimented with wire reinforcement of concrete, leading to an 1867 patent. 🪴

This week’s blog post explores the history, evolution and current form of the gardens of Longleat, in Wiltshire: bit.ly/3XqdDLu. Whilst now most famous for its lions, the Grade I landscape has C17 origins, with later input from both Capability Brown and Humphry Repton.

On a recent visit to a National Trust property, the welcome included reference to the ‘disillusionment of the monasteries’. It kind of works, and I’m now thinking that’s how Henry VIII’s efforts should always be described.

The latest blog post (bit.ly/4elG5VN) looks at the origins of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), and its use in the conservation of historic parks and gardens: conservation does not just take place through the planning system, but requires funding, too.

It’s the last week of the Autumn Festival at Aylett Nurseries: dahlias in abundance. Around 4000, in fact (across 70+ varieties), in both the trial ground and the Celebration Garden.

Finally made it to ‘The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists’ exhibition. The wall of Ladybird wonders was a particular delight - all visitors being heard to say ‘I had that one’. A good gardens presence, too. Informative and charming. 🐞

This week’s blog post looks at ‘Turkish tents’, as found in many an eighteenth-century garden: bit.ly/47fr6dG.