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Dahlia Festival Returns Kelmarsh Hall & Gardens is once again holding a Dahlia Festival in September, following on from last year’s popular event. There will be specially-themed events on Sunday 6th and Sunday 27th September, in recognition of the varied and vibrant display of dahlias that can be found in Kelmarsh Hall’s historic walled kitchen garden. Last year, a further 20 new varieties were introduced, making it one of the must-see collections for dahlia lovers. Along with a dahlia clinic for enthusiasts, there will also be dahlia-focussed talks and demonstrations, including flower-arranging in Kelmarsh Hall’s newly-restored Orangery. In addition, there will be plant sales and exhibitors along with tours of the Grade II* gardens, which include a striking double border, sunken garden, fan rose garden and a 30m long border. Visitors will also be able to explore the Hall on a free-flow basis. In the walled garden at Kelmarsh Hall, Head Gardener Joshua Coyne and his team have the space to grow larger varieties and to experiment with their own seedlings. The range of shapes and colours is fascinating, and for sheer flower-power, there is nothing to beat dahlias. You can now come and learn the secrets of successfully growing these show-off plants. There will be a single entry fee to the hall, gardens and all the events during the Dahlia Festival: £8 for adults, £7.50 for concessions, £4.50 for children aged 5-14 and free entry for under-fives. Garden Fundraising Talk The women who shaped the gardens at Kelmarsh Hall will be the subject of a talk taking place at the Northamptonshire country house this autumn. Guest speaker Kristina Taylor, a garden historian, will deliver the talk entitled Norah Lindsay and Nancy Lancaster, Gardening at Kelmarsh – Their Inspirations and Influences on Sunday 4th October. Former resident Nancy, who is credited with creating the English country house style, enlisted the help of the garden designer of her day, Norah Lindsay, to develop the gardens. Bounded by a medieval village, the gardens have been recognised as significant by their Grade II* English Heritage listing. Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe also had a hand in the development of the gardens, laying out a formal terrace to the west of the Hall. Kristina Taylor, author of Women Garden Designers (Garden Art Press, 2015) and a regular contributor to publications including Garden History Society Journal, Historic Gardens Review and Country Life, will examine what inspired Nancy and Norah and what shaped their style. Money raised from the talk will go towards the Kelmarsh Garden Fund and will enable the ongoing restoration and maintenance of these historic gardens. Since 1997, the Kelmarsh Trust has delivered a programme of restoration works to ensure that Nancy and Norah’s original designs and influences are maintained. The main herbaceous borders have been replanted in the spirit of the two women and, with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the vinery in the walled kitchen garden has been restored. The Trust wants to continue with restoration projects such as these, along with the refreshment of older plantings and on-going maintenance, to make sure these special gardens can be enjoyed by future generations. The fundraising event on October 4th will begin with coffee in the Great Hall at 11.30am, followed by the talk in the Ballroom at midday. There will be a buffet lunch in the Saloon, after which there will be a chance to explore the hall and gardens. Tickets are £45 and must be booked in advance from 01604 686543. Find us on: Facebook - Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens Twitter - @KelmarshHall NN6 9LY 01604 686543 www.kelmarsh.com |
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