Wye Valley Sculpture Garden , Tintern, Monmouthshire.

[lugg]

I was really not sure where to post this - its not Herefordshire ...even though close, so that particular garden thread was ruled out. Its only partially about the garden, a lot is about the art. There is little in the way of information ...should it be a postcard?

Anyway I have opted for here but happy to have it moved wherever.

These 3 acre gardens are over the border from Herefordshire in Monmouthshire on the fairly steep slopes of the River Wye. Relatively new the family who own the land and house are 3 generations in. I am not sure how long sculptures have featured as part of the summer season of garden openings but I guess not so long.

This is from the website,

The Garden
The Wye Valley Sculpture is the vision of artist Gemma Kate Wood which is an accumulation of a shared vision stretching over three generations. The story reaches back to the 1950’s, to an organically run small-holding set up by her grandparents. Inspired by their reverence for the natural world, her parents- who are both botanists and ecologists- have been collecting plants and growing this garden for over 40 years. We still hold true to that Organic, Sustainable vison. In 2018 the Garden won a Sustainable Venue award.
The Garden sits nestled upon the ancient wooded slopes of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty providing an ever-changing backdrop of colour and texture throughout the season. Today the garden is about 3 acres and is made up of formal lawns surrounded by abundant herbaceous borders, a pond, woodland areas, Snowdrop wood, an orchard and meadows which all provide a rich habitat for wildlife.

There is very little information other than this on the web but I did find the link to Gemma Kate Woods website www.gemmakatewood.com/about.
Anyway , I can see from my catalogue that there were 99 sculptures, from a total of 23 artists.. Many (?all) are for sale and if I remember I will try to add the prices for some of those I show you. Some I liked very much, some not so... the beautiful, the good and the downright ugly but it’s all a question of personal taste of course.
I imagine the garden can be very wet in parts but it was relatively dry when I visited on a warmish but cloudy day. The entry fee was £8. The garden paths are well planned as they meander around the hillside leading to some levelled areas.
Entering the garden there is a small water feature, pretty much hidden by lush planting , many ferns etc.

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One of the several sculptures here is “ Daisies” made of fused metal and glass ( £300) .

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Crossing over the bridge – there is a large, flat, lawned area with an herbaceous border. Home to several pieces.

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The hares are made of iron resin and consulting my catalogue I discovered that although I liked them I did not like them as much as £700-995
However the delphiniums and foxgloves in the border were much more affordable (£50- £80)

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I am not sure what I thought about this piece, “ Diamond Light” Anyway it was several thousand pounds out of my reach

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However I coveted this stoneware, “Amphitrite”

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The path leads upwards and behind the lawn , really there are sculptures to be seen at every turn. Some partially hidden by planting, others less so . But before I move on I must also tell you about the sounds – of course lots of birdsong but also relaxing and themed music. Later I spotted the source .
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Nature was creating its own artwork,

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Up another level and passed the house, to another small lawned area

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“Siesta” a bronze resin (£850)
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“ Inclusion” looks out of place here maybe but I saw a similar one later in a different setting which complemented it

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And up another level again and onto the next path. I found “A Joyful Garden” lovely . Much of the garden here is shaded by many trees and there is limited formal planting. It is however, lush and green at this time of year.

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A ceramic “ Sun Worshipper” was placed in the shade..

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This “Moonstone” was not for sale

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After reaching the highest level of the garden the garden opened up below,

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More to follow.

[bixaorellana]

This is exciting, Lugg! As always, your photos are not only great, they also make me imagine I was there. That entrance to the garden provokes anticipation immediately.

I guess it's inevitable that this kind of sculpture garden would have pieces that weren't quite "it", but to me most of the ones you show seem fitting for the environment. I love the daisies and the hares and the glass delphinium. I'd love to see "Diamond Light” in situ. It's intriguing, but I can also see how it might be too industrial & jarring. I wish I could get you the “Amphitrite”!

But on to the plantings ~~ Foliage is something I adore and this garden gives it its due and more. The gentle undulations and levels and colors of all the foliage work so perfectly with whatever things are in bloom. That photo directly beneath the one of the musicians is totally, satisfyingly perfect!

Can't wait for more!

[fumobici]

Very cool! I'm not really a "sculpture garden" person, but I have to admit they've done an amazing job of it here. Great photos and report.

[kerouac2]

England does lush vegetation better than most places! I like the fact that the sculptures are not overwhelming compared to the plants.

[bjd]

I'm not a sculpture garden person either but I think the plantings and foliage are lovely.

[mickthecactus]

I'm impressed that the Hostas are snail free.

[lugg]

Thank you ... Next installment

So below as the garden opens up…

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This stainless steel spiral really caught my eye

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I also really liked this “Fern On Oak” which rotated in the breeze. I have a video which I will try to post at a later date as I am struggling to save it from my phone

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Much more sun here for this “ Sun worshipper”

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A little of what I saw as I headed back downhill ,

“Sky Mirror”

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“Bubbles in the Wye”

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This I suppose could be classed as the heart of the garden, with a number of water features and related sculptures, which slope downwards from the upper more formal pond

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“Damselfly” made iridescent stainless steel (£750)

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“Paired For Life “ (£1,400)

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Moving on passed the peacock to the lowest lawned area, another informal area.

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Don’t know what this little fledgling made of the wire doves

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I also coveted this birdbath..another stoneware piece. I have just checked the catalogue and the stoneware pieces are all by the same artist, Renee Kilburn. www.reneekilburn.com/

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Adored the “ Cow Parsley” too

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Last section to follow ..

[fumobici]

Jun 19, 2024 14:39:40 GMT mickthecactus said:

I'm impressed that the Hostas are snail free.

The slugs and snails have to fight off the deer here to get their fill of our hostas.

[kerouac2]

Some of those elements look absolutely perfect in the garden. But I don't think I would have put the urn on a table.

[bixaorellana]

Love this section, too! When I went to the sculpture garden in Xalapa recently, I felt that many of the pieces were "just there". In other words many didn't work either as sculptures or as garden features, to my mind anyway. In contrast, almost all you show from this section work beautifully as themselves and as part of the garden.

The open landscape with woodland and meadow portions is outstanding. I love how so many of the plants that we know to be cultivated manage to look so natural and wild in that setting.

Agree with you about the stainless steel spiral & would love to have that piece with the irregular pieces of stained glass. The cow parsley is indeed brilliant.

So glad you went to this garden & that we're getting to see it!

[lugg]

Really appreciate your comments.

Not all the Hostas were slug free ...but my friend lives in area similar to Fumobici and the deer take the biscuit .

So finally managed to up load a video ...not great but if you have the sound on you should here the guitar music ..I thought it was moved by the wind but now think there must have been a motor withn.

[cheerypeabrain]

Lovely report Lugg, I too really like the birdbath (it would be indoors tho as scraping bird doings off it would spoil the joy). I also really like the 'moonstone' pooking out of the foliage. Beautiful.

[lugg]

Thank you Cheery - yes re bird droppings , not reaslly thought about that pain.

[lugg]

So final installemnt...


Heading back upwards to a formal circular lawn, surrounded by a low wall retaining borders of plants and , of course, more art.

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Hmmm … “ hares” (£180)

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“Curlews”

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Looking up I spotted the peacock again – maybe better from a distance ?

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Ok last section, I was looking for a particular piece, which I had seen posted in my photo group. Before finding it though …

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Alliums –stoneware , again by Renee Kilburn


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“Scaredy Cats”
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And here we are – I know that what I am looking for is here somewhere

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Wandering around the pond there was much to admire..

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But here is what I had seen photos of …”Fluorescence” ( £17,000) .. Made of stained glass on a fibreglass sphere.

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But to finish with one of my favourite pieces – I just loved these bulrushes.

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So that is it guys – for now – I will go back in snowdrop/ bluebell season I think.

[htmb]

The whole place looks charming to me. I would enjoy a peaceful wander in person, but your fab photos make for the next best thing! What a treat!

[kerouac2]

Thank you for this display. The stained glass sphere is outstanding.

[bixaorellana]

Lugg, I really admire the way you presented this report in sections. Gardens, as much as I love them, can be confusing or overwhelming in pictures. But the way you showed us one part at a time made it easier and more enjoyable to appreciate the landscape and what was in it.

This last section is a grand finale, for sure. That step up to the expansive lawn is a nice way to rest the eyes for a moment before plunging back into the very lush gardens and all the sculptures.

I looove that wiggle-worm piece. It's in a perfect spot, too. Your individual plant and bee portraits are lovely.

Those two upright stone & stained glass sculptures are striking, as is the open hexagon perfectly placed in a brilliantly composed foliage bed.

I think the alliums are my favorite of the stoneware pieces. They'd look awfully nice in my fantasy garden, along with the wonderful glass bullrushes.

The stained glass sphere is astounding in workmanship. It's very well placed to be admired without distracting from the plainer, more elegant pieces around it.

Thank you so much for taking us with you to this outstanding garden. I do hope you'll get to back in another season.

[lugg]

Thank you all, so glad you enjoyed it vicariously xx