With just over two weeks to go until we fling the gates open for the National Garden Scheme Open Day, now seems the perfect moment to talk about how and why we welcome visitors to the garden, and what it means for all involved.
The National Garden Scheme was established in the early 1900s by the Queen's Nursing Institute, the idea being to raise funds for district nurses through the country’s national obsession with gardens. The initiative was a success – many well-known garden owners of the time including Winston Churchill and Vita Sackville-West signed up, and the charity continues to raise millions for health and wellbeing causes to this day.
The idea of opening Gasper Cottage to the public hadn't crossed Bella's mind, until a few years ago when friends Charles and Rupert urged her to host an NGS open day. They had been welcoming visitors into their own Clapham garden for several years, and spotted the potential for success.
"In the first instance, I was simply flattered that the folk at the NGS thought my garden was good enough!", remembers Bella. "However, once I started, I realised how much I enjoy sharing the garden, and chatting about the plants and choices with visitors. From their reactions I also get the sense that we are making something really special and out of the norm, which of course brings me pride and satisfaction (my competitive instincts kick in!)".
Since the first open day in 2019, the annual event has developed its own behind-the-scene traditions. Every year, husband Johnnie's best friend and his wife come to help – starting with putting out those distinctive yellow signs the evening before. "We have so much fun doing this... somehow it always leads to hilarity!", Bella laughs.
Operation Signage. From left: Louise, Bella, and Johnnie.
Poaching visitors from neighbouring Stourhead
John-Paul and Johnnie, armed and ready to advertise
Final stop – the garden gate
On the day itself, knowledgeable gardener Louise is a great help in welcoming visitors with Bella. John-Paul's main duty is to help Johnnie man the model railway – the open day being the big chance in the year to show off his passion project:
"I’ve aimed to create a garden railway in every house I’ve ever lived in, but it came as rather a shock to Bella when I proposed building this one. I had kept my model railway inclinations hidden until after we were married, you see!".
Permission granted, Johnnie (with the help of JP) created his dream track on the northern boundary of the garden, flanked by open, rolling meadows on one side, and a Piet Oudolf-inspired bank of mixed grasses and perennials on the other.
This unusual mix of two very different hobbies went down unexpectedly well: "I think everybody was surprised by how well the trains were received by the visiting public", says Johnnie. "They loved them – and yes, there was a bit of a gender divide. On that first open day we asked everybody as they left what had been the best bit. The ladies usually said something gardeny…. whilst most of the chaps said ‘the trains, obviously!’".
Since then, the railway demonstration has become an integral feature of the day – although it is hard graft for its station masters: "JP and I have to work hard to keep trains running without breaks in service. They're all proper steam engines and need water, oil, gas, and constant maintenance to keep going. We have to stay focussed, all the while, visitors are asking questions, making comments, and chatting happily. There have been some derailments and even crashes over the years, but most of the time it runs smoothly!".
Though Gasper Cottage remains very much a private garden, the 'visitor experience' plays an increasingly significant role in its development. "When planning new areas or changes, I do now think, 'how will this work on an open day?'", says Bella. She had visitors in mind when moving the compost bays so they are no longer the first thing seen on entering from the field-cum-car park, and improving foot flow by turning a dead end by the railway into a through route.
Feedback on the day has, in some cases, directly led to change. A prime example is the greenhouse:
"I use this space intensively for propagation early in the year and, as I don’t tend to grow tomatoes or cucumbers, had been leaving it largely empty in summer", explains Bella. "The good folk of the NGS visiting crowd were pretty shocked to see the wasted opportunity, prompting Jack and I to come up with the idea of a decorative pot display". Visitors will now see the space filled with tender shrubs and scented-leaved pelargoniums – a nod to the family history at Stourhead, where Richard Colt Hoare was a pelargonium collector and breeder.
Empty no longer
Anyone assuming the weeks leading up to the open day see gardener Jack frantically sprucing the place up may be surprised to hear the real story. "I don't think of it as a particular deadline in my gardening year", he explains. "If I pinned all of my motivation on just one day, I'd be in trouble the rest of the time!". For him, it is simply a window into the garden where he strives for excellence all year round, regardless of who sees it. "Yes, I'll trim the internal hedges for the open day, and hold a few later flowering annuals back in the polytunnel (salvias, zinnias etc.) in case any holes appear in the planting, but apart from that it's business as usual. I'm equally proud of the garden at many other times of the year". Like Bella, however, he relishes the chance to chat with enthusiastic visitors. "I particularly enjoy seeing those who come back year after year. Working on my own most of the time, it's a great opportunity to talk about the garden with likeminded people".
When it came to choosing a date for the open day, late summer was the obvious choice for a garden featuring so many dahlias (a long-standing passion of Bella's). It was also something of a tactical move: "masses of gardens open in early summer for 'peak roses', and I didn’t much fancy the competition!" admits Bella.
Having said this, she will be urging visitors to go on to nearby Batcombe House, which also opens its doors on the 8th September. "I have recently got to know the owner, Libby Russell, who has made an amazing garden there. Given we are only 20 minutes apart, I hope visitors of one can be encouraged to visit the other".
Listen out for Bella talking on BBC Radio Wiltshire in the run up to the day, and visit our page on the NGS website to book your tickets and find out more. We look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!
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