By Beatrice Prosser-Snelling, Benton End Project Director
Mark Whyman Landscapes have been on site for just over a month, and the walled garden transformation has already been remarkable. Mark and his team have removed and re-purposed the large terrace added to the garden in the 1990s, crushing it and using the spoil as hardcore for the new paths – over 200m of which have now been dug out and laid throughout the garden. The team have been building new brick steps, and walls, as well as making repairs to the original walls.
Last week, they began experimenting with the waste-cast bricks that have come from Sarah Price’s 2023 Chelsea Flower Show Garden; laying ‘brick rugs’ with different patterns which will create spaces for visitors, artists and gardeners to stop and rest in the midst of the walled garden planting.
Over 200 individuals have made donations to the appeal, which has allowed to get this far. We now need support to fund the landscaping team to make new waste-cast bricks and garden objects from the rest of the Benton End spoil. They will also work on rainwater collection and recycling systems, including the restoration of an old water feature in the garden. We’ll then move on to dressing, decorating and most importantly, planting the garden. This will include the continued repatriation of many of Cedric’s plants that were gifted to friends and colleagues after his death.
Please continue to support this special project, and help us to complete the restoration of Cedric’s walled garden: help us restore Cedric’s walled garden
