Olivia Laing’s Suffolk garden and Hullwood Barn
Join us on a visit to Olivia Laing’s gorgeous restoration of a historic Suffolk garden and to the garden of Sarah Cook and Jim Marshall, both noted horticulturalists.
Described by the Financial Times as one of ‘the most significant voices of our time’, Olivia Laing writes on art, culture, landscape and sexuality. Her latest book, The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise, will be published on 2 May 2024 following a launch and in conversation with Olivia at the Garden Museum on 30 April.
The book covers, among much else, Olivia’s restoration of a walled garden in Suffolk, originally owned and designed by Mark Rumary of Notcutts. Arranged as a series of enclosed rooms, this intimate, romantic, fragrant garden is full of horticultural interest, from medlar to magnolia, daphne to witch hazel. Highlights include a loosely formal paradise garden and a newly created library garden of ferns, tree peonies and species roses.
We start with tea and biscuits at 11.30am in Olivia’s walled garden. She will then guide us through the garden and its creation.
Our next stop will be The Unruly Pig, an award-winning gastropub, for a seasonal three-course lunch. After lunch, we drive to Hullwood Barn, home of Sarah Cook and Jim Marshall.
Head gardener at Sissinghurst for 14 years and holder of the National Collection of Cedric Morris Irises, Sarah is a fount of horticultural knowledge and a captivating speaker. Her retirement mission to locate the irises bred by Cedric Morris at Benton End, made a significant contribution to the publicity that led to Benton End being majority gifted to the Garden Museum in 2021.
Jim spent ten years at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and for twenty-five years was garden advisor to the National Trust. Jim holds two National Collections: one of Malmaison Carnations, which he fell for when he was asked to source flowers for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; he also holds the National Collection of Heritage Perpetual Carnations and has been awarded gold medals for his exhibits at the Hampton Court Flower Show.
After a joint introduction by Sarah and Jim, we will divide into two groups to explore the garden’s herbaceous plants, roses, vegetable beds and carnation greenhouse, plus whatever is available to view on the day of the iris collection.
We will end the day with tea and coffee in the garden.
Please note that owing to seasonal variation and their short flowering period, we cannot guarantee that the irises will be in flower on 11 June. The visit may therefore not be suitable for those whose priority would be to view the Cedric Morris irises.
This event has been organised by the Garden Museum’s Garden Visits committee. We recommend you read our Garden Visits Attendee Charter and Refund/exchange policy before booking your place on any of our Garden Visits.
