Hergest Croft , Kington May 22
Jun 17, 2022 20:39:50 GMT
Post by lugg on Jun 17, 2022 20:39:50 GMT
I visited these gardens recently for the first time, although they have been on my radar for some time. They are right on the border of Herefordshire, near the market town of Kington , just a stones throw from Offas Dyke which forms the border with Wales in this part of Herefordshire.
The gardens remain in private ownership but are open to the public from March to the end of October. The gardens are about 120 years old but of course have been added to and re-designed by the Banks family over the years. They extend to around 70 acres.
A little about the various Banks family members, their houses and the estate here,
landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2019/01/362-banks-of-ridgebourne-and-hergest.html
Map of the garden to start ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048153188_449ccf5a4a_b.jpg
We visited on May Bank Holiday when a Spring Fair of plants etc. was also taking place so the place was very busy, but we found some quiet peaceful spots too once away from the sales and Hergest Croft . It was one of those days that I hate when taking photos – light grey dull sky with just a few clouds, but at least it did not rain and was reasonably warm
From the car park the entrance, No 1 on the map, takes you past the back of Hergest Croft which is pretty unimpressive. It is no longer home to the family but has been divided into flats and looks a little sad really.
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048106066_6b7d8b7a6a_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048151508_d505ccf3e5_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047057072_8eec12a5d5_c.jpg
However some of the delights of the garden at this time of year were evident even here,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047058462_8e6c89f1fc_c.jpg
Sculpture from an old yew,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048106331_d2ea668200_b.jpg
This photo does not do this beautiful Cornus justice unfortunately,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048347819_b1540e7ef4_c.jpg
I have real difficulty telling rhododendrons and azaleas apart in the most part unless it is really obvious but I am fairly certain looking at the close up it is a rhododendron. ( Please correct me if I am wrong)
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048216378_264168ba5b_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048170786_a47bc381f6_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047122132_306d5c4f47_c.jpg
Next into the conservatory (No 3 on the map) Not huge by any standard but quite pretty – just a few pics of what I saw,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048608265_1b800d8ee9_c.jpg
On the way in a few posters caught my eye, all 3 elements for different reasons,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411834_aa660f7906_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411914_d5806cce1d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411674_7fd326951d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048672140_1f98b34a9f_c.jpg
A closer look at the glorious Echium candicans - Pride of Madeira
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048170096_4990ef69e7_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048169971_93277bc8a9_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048214993_a7b1778674_c.jpg
Looking out to the next part..
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047056807_91e62a9865_c.jpg
So to No 2 on the map - The Lawn which lies in front of the house, currently occupied by some of the plant sellers ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048347049_b03f677493_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048657475_dd36861960_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048346849_8ec6b882ce_c.jpg
The house looks much more appealing now and is showing its Arts and Crafts roots, finally,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048150448_86eb03c61a_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048346599_744f6b38eb_b.jpg
A rather lovely border of tulips and forget-me-nots just outside the veranda, a busy area as that was the entrance to the café inside the house,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048214908_5f0919a887_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047108127_82afa0772d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048671300_5846f4424c_c.jpg
I should probably say here that we did not go to every area of the gardens, mostly because my knee is just not up to covering 70 acres in one go unfortunately
Ok we walked to No 8 – The Old Rockery , passing some lovely flowers ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048410474_495aea2d10_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048410589_f56e39edcb_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048670880_aefc5073e6_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047120422_29c382d6a8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047120152_07a19dde6b_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048406979_d7039c3e20_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048210783_89d3cedbcc_c.jpg
Here we are,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048168271_fe0fcb1a5e_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047119662_0a3279b0c5_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048408939_e2172b08b8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047055807_c99a492d69_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048345904_424285cd4c_c.jpg
..of course every good rockery has a pool ( or two) at its heart.
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048104101_687c3057e9_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048409169_6f8b60f29d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048167011_9d10f74a08_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048212283_2c2acab39c_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048211678_8cca9e9d05_c.jpg
At first glance I thought this rock was covered in caterpillars – then looked up..
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048211543_87d85f29f8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048166326_97f20728bc_c.jpg
Next we decided that we would head through The Park towards Park Wood and Rhododendron Valley ( Nos 13 and 14 on the map)
More to follow in a day or so.
The gardens remain in private ownership but are open to the public from March to the end of October. The gardens are about 120 years old but of course have been added to and re-designed by the Banks family over the years. They extend to around 70 acres.
A little about the various Banks family members, their houses and the estate here,
landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2019/01/362-banks-of-ridgebourne-and-hergest.html
Map of the garden to start ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048153188_449ccf5a4a_b.jpg
We visited on May Bank Holiday when a Spring Fair of plants etc. was also taking place so the place was very busy, but we found some quiet peaceful spots too once away from the sales and Hergest Croft . It was one of those days that I hate when taking photos – light grey dull sky with just a few clouds, but at least it did not rain and was reasonably warm
From the car park the entrance, No 1 on the map, takes you past the back of Hergest Croft which is pretty unimpressive. It is no longer home to the family but has been divided into flats and looks a little sad really.
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048106066_6b7d8b7a6a_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048151508_d505ccf3e5_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047057072_8eec12a5d5_c.jpg
However some of the delights of the garden at this time of year were evident even here,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047058462_8e6c89f1fc_c.jpg
Sculpture from an old yew,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048106331_d2ea668200_b.jpg
This photo does not do this beautiful Cornus justice unfortunately,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048347819_b1540e7ef4_c.jpg
I have real difficulty telling rhododendrons and azaleas apart in the most part unless it is really obvious but I am fairly certain looking at the close up it is a rhododendron. ( Please correct me if I am wrong)
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048216378_264168ba5b_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048170786_a47bc381f6_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047122132_306d5c4f47_c.jpg
Next into the conservatory (No 3 on the map) Not huge by any standard but quite pretty – just a few pics of what I saw,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048608265_1b800d8ee9_c.jpg
On the way in a few posters caught my eye, all 3 elements for different reasons,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411834_aa660f7906_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411914_d5806cce1d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048411674_7fd326951d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048672140_1f98b34a9f_c.jpg
A closer look at the glorious Echium candicans - Pride of Madeira
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048170096_4990ef69e7_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048169971_93277bc8a9_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048214993_a7b1778674_c.jpg
Looking out to the next part..
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047056807_91e62a9865_c.jpg
So to No 2 on the map - The Lawn which lies in front of the house, currently occupied by some of the plant sellers ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048347049_b03f677493_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048657475_dd36861960_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048346849_8ec6b882ce_c.jpg
The house looks much more appealing now and is showing its Arts and Crafts roots, finally,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048150448_86eb03c61a_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048346599_744f6b38eb_b.jpg
A rather lovely border of tulips and forget-me-nots just outside the veranda, a busy area as that was the entrance to the café inside the house,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048214908_5f0919a887_b.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047108127_82afa0772d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048671300_5846f4424c_c.jpg
I should probably say here that we did not go to every area of the gardens, mostly because my knee is just not up to covering 70 acres in one go unfortunately
Ok we walked to No 8 – The Old Rockery , passing some lovely flowers ,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048410474_495aea2d10_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048410589_f56e39edcb_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048670880_aefc5073e6_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047120422_29c382d6a8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047120152_07a19dde6b_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048406979_d7039c3e20_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048210783_89d3cedbcc_c.jpg
Here we are,
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048168271_fe0fcb1a5e_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047119662_0a3279b0c5_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048408939_e2172b08b8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52047055807_c99a492d69_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048345904_424285cd4c_c.jpg
..of course every good rockery has a pool ( or two) at its heart.
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048104101_687c3057e9_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048409169_6f8b60f29d_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048167011_9d10f74a08_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048212283_2c2acab39c_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048211678_8cca9e9d05_c.jpg
At first glance I thought this rock was covered in caterpillars – then looked up..
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048211543_87d85f29f8_c.jpg
live.staticflickr.com/65535/52048166326_97f20728bc_c.jpg
Next we decided that we would head through The Park towards Park Wood and Rhododendron Valley ( Nos 13 and 14 on the map)
More to follow in a day or so.