Toddington Manor - beautiful gardens by Linette Applegate Head Gardener at the Manor.

Summer Opening Times- NEW!

In 2010, we're also open each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during May, June and July. Dogs on leads welcome.

1.00 pm to 5.00 pm

Admission is £5.00 for adults, with children free. Season tickets (£12 each) are also availbale. (Please note the House is NOT open to the public.)

Gardening Course in 2010

PRUNING THROUGH THE YEAR
9th & 10th March 2010

Please ring to book or for more details and remember, this is our last course so book now! (01525) 872576

HERB GARDEN
Planted in 1986 to a design by Lucy Huntingdon the Herb Garden is protected on two sides by the old kitchen garden wall. The outer border was planted to reflect the culinary, medicinal and insect repellent virtues of the herbs, while the inner section is planted with some of the many species and cultivars of thymes.

CROQUET LAWN
I had suggested that the old tennis court was very ugly and should be removed, and Lady Bowman-Shaw had tentatively agreed (it was from Lady B-S that the idea of a croquet lawn had come) but Sir Neville was less sure. So I waited for a suitable opportunity and quickly pulled down the rusty fence and excavated the tarmac.

ROSE GARDEN
Re-constructed in the late 1970's with a central fish-pond, the layout is diagonally symmetrical, with white Iceberg floribundas in opposite corners and yellow Mountbatten's in the other corners.

SWIMMING POOL GARDEN
400 delphiniums were grown from seed, lavender, rue and rosemary were propagated to provide the evergreen structure and a dozen or so roses were bought in.

GEORGE'S BED
The original planting was jumbled, all yellows, pinks and blues…the only plant doing well was a Hydrangea sargentiana, which remains. Some-one had put in several large poles, about 10 feet apart and joined by drooping chains, covered in climbing roses ('Felicitie et Perpetue, Albertine, Mme. Alfred Carriere etc.)

The peonies have been glorious from the start, covered in June with huge pink and white blooms, but the rock-roses withered away and were replaced by dianthus (pinks) and species foxgloves.

UMPIRE'S BANK
Inula magnifica predominates and has to be kept under control, Rosa paulii has been planted and is allowed to scramble down the slope, and the planting of two Laburnum x wateri standards near the centre has given the bank some style and significance.

HERBACEOUS BORDERS
Long & Short Borders are about 40 yards long and each is 6 yards wide, split along their length by an ancient stone path (The Long Walk) which continues on for another 60 yards. An avenue of pleached limes (Tilia platyphyllos) lines the central path, casting a heavy shadow beneath.

The New Borders, 60 yards long and a total of 12 yards wide, are a natural progression of the Old, following along beside the old stone path. The new borders echo the old, without slavishly copying the original, with a new focus at the centre of peach and white English roses.

WOODS & LAKES
In the woods behind the Manor are two large, shallow lakes. They had been dredged in the early days of the modern improvements, but neglected since. Andrew Bowman-Shaw, the eldest son and recently qualified tree-surgeon, helped us clear a track right around the largest lake.

NEW TERRACE
Just outside the Study door a small paved garden was created during the Spring of 2001. Protected by standard English roses and underplanted with dwarf box to be clipped to echo the interesting swirling pattern of the nearby fascia boarding.

Linette Applegate (Head Gardener)

		The original gardens were destroyed many years ago, only a few mature trees have survived. Re-planting began in 1979 with the arrival of the present owners, and improvement work continues every year. Robin Mason, the previous head gardener, carried out many improvements to the original planting, which I hope to continue. You can now take a peek behind the scenes by visiting the online diary of our gardeners. To visit the blog, CLICK HERE Linette Applegate (Head Gardener) Awarded a star in the 'Good Gardens Guide' from 1994 onwards. Summer Opening Times- NEW! In 2010, we're also open each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during May, June and July. Dogs on leads welcome. 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm Admission is £5.00 for adults, with children free. Season tickets (£12 each) are also availbale. (Please note the House is NOT open to the public.) Gardening Course in 2010 PRUNING THROUGH THE YEAR 9th & 10th March 2010 Please ring to book or for more details and remember, this is our last course so book now! (01525) 872576 HERB GARDEN Planted in 1986 to a design by Lucy Huntingdon the Herb Garden is protected on two sides by the old kitchen garden wall. The outer border was planted to reflect the culinary, medicinal and insect repellent virtues of the herbs, while the inner section is planted with some of the many species and cultivars of thymes. CROQUET LAWN I had suggested that the old tennis court was very ugly and should be removed, and Lady Bowman-Shaw had tentatively agreed (it was from Lady B-S that the idea of a croquet lawn had come) but Sir Neville was less sure. So I waited for a suitable opportunity and quickly pulled down the rusty fence and excavated the tarmac. ROSE GARDEN Re-constructed in the late 1970's with a central fish-pond, the layout is diagonally symmetrical, with white Iceberg floribundas in opposite corners and yellow Mountbatten's in the other corners. SWIMMING POOL GARDEN 400 delphiniums were grown from seed, lavender, rue and rosemary were propagated to provide the evergreen structure and a dozen or so roses were bought in. GEORGE'S BED The original planting was jumbled, all yellows, pinks and blues…the only plant doing well was a Hydrangea sargentiana, which remains. Some-one had put in several large poles, about 10 feet apart and joined by drooping chains, covered in climbing roses ('Felicitie et Perpetue, Albertine, Mme. Alfred Carriere etc.) The peonies have been glorious from the start, covered in June with huge pink and white blooms, but the rock-roses withered away and were replaced by dianthus (pinks) and species foxgloves. UMPIRE'S BANK Inula magnifica predominates and has to be kept under control, Rosa paulii has been planted and is allowed to scramble down the slope, and the planting of two Laburnum x wateri standards near the centre has given the bank some style and significance. HERBACEOUS BORDERS Long & Short Borders are about 40 yards long and each is 6 yards wide, split along their length by an ancient stone path (The Long Walk) which continues on for another 60 yards. An avenue of pleached limes (Tilia platyphyllos) lines the central path, casting a heavy shadow beneath. The New Borders, 60 yards long and a total of 12 yards wide, are a natural progression of the Old, following along beside the old stone path. The new borders echo the old, without slavishly copying the original, with a new focus at the centre of peach and white English roses. WOODS & LAKES In the woods behind the Manor are two large, shallow lakes. They had been dredged in the early days of the modern improvements, but neglected since. Andrew Bowman-Shaw, the eldest son and recently qualified tree-surgeon, helped us clear a track right around the largest lake. NEW TERRACE Just outside the Study door a small paved garden was created during the Spring of 2001. Protected by standard English roses and underplanted with dwarf box to be clipped to echo the interesting swirling pattern of the nearby fascia boarding. Linette Applegate (Head Gardener)







HERB GARDEN .
HERB GARDEN .
CROQUET LAWN .
ROSE GARDEN .

POOL GARDEN .
GEORGE'S BED .
GEORGE'S BED .
UMPIRE'S BANK .
UMPIRE'S BANK .
HERBACEOUS BORDERS .
HERBACEOUS BORDERS .
WOODS & LAKES .
NEW PATIO