HILLTOP GARDENING CLUB 
Bussage, Brownshill,
Chalford Hill and Eastcombe

Welcome to the latest information from the

 Hilltop Gardening Club.


Next Meeting - Tuesday 2nd April - The Tetbury Flower Company

Rachel Golding-Barrett


7.15pm - Eastcombe Village Hall.


The full Agenda for 2024/25 is now on the Programme Page.


Notes from the last meeting can be found below. (Previous meeting notes can be found on the Archive page)


March Meeting Notes

 Kevin Ward -  Museum in the Park.

 

Kevin Ward, Museum Development Manager at The Museum in the Park, Stroud, was guest speaker at our first evening meeting of 2024, in Eastcombe Village Hall. His fascinating talk was called ‘Unlocking the Secret Garden at the Museum in the Park’. It described the transformation of a wild and unruly plot into the stunning walled garden on view today.

The Stratford Park Estate’s walled garden dates back to the nineteenth century. The Museum opened in the mansion in 2001, by which time the walled garden had been derelict for 20 years. Its restoration began in 2012. Work was made possible by the dedicated support of Stroud District Council, Museum Friends, the local community, and funding bodies.

There were many problems. For example, Japanese knotweed had to be removed and the Victorian glasshouse was carefully demolished, as it was riddled with asbestos. Despite the challenges, the pavilion building and new garden entrance were completed in 2015 and planting commenced in 2016.

The artist, Cleo Mussi, designed the borders, using plants from her own and her mother’s gardens and local apple and pear tree varieties.

The walled garden was formally opened in 2016. Today it is supported and maintained by dedicated volunteers and enjoyed by a variety of community groups. For example, Stroud Buzzy Club has installed hives in the garden, and a local hedgehog hospital has put in hedgehog houses.

The annual snowdrop celebrations, first held in 2020, are popular: over 1,000 people visited 2024’s event.




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