Blue Daisy Blog

We arrived at Dunham Massey on a very hot and sunny day, the website and literature said that it was the most visited National Trust property in the North West so we thought we were in for a treat. There are three main areas to visit: the Georgian house, the gardens and the 300 acre deer park, the house was yet to open so we decided to go and visit the gardens first.

People dressed in authentic costume greeted us and were walking through the grounds in character; it really did make you feel as though you had stumbled upon a piece of England that simply hadn’t been touched by the 21st Century.

The gardens were beautiful in many ways from a historical point of view and also from a horticultural stand too. We were given a map of the gardens which made sure we didn’t get lost and miss anything out which I thought was a really good idea and did help too! As we entered we came upon the croquet lawn which was surrounded by jolly and colourful perennials as if welcoming us to the main house garden. Luckily for us there was a brass band playing under a gazebo keeping the heat of the sun off them, there was stall selling soft drinks and champagne and everyone simply sat on the large lawn and soaked up the atmosphere. The staff who were dressed in costume walked around the lawn area with their parasols bidding us a good day, children played and band continued to fill the air.  All terribly civilised and lovely too!

I read an interesting article recently in the Society of Garden Designers Journal about deer. When we think of deer most of us think how mysterious, shy and cute they are but not for those who are plagued with the damage they can inflict on our precious gardens.

To keep these wonderful yet destructive creatures out whether you are designing or maintaining a garden consider building a fence around the entire perimeter of at least 1.5m in height. Deer are athletic jumpers but it is better to err on the side of caution and opt for 1.9m as this will keep the most energetic out. You can have mesh but the sections need to be no bigger than 75mm x 75mm.  Don’t stop there though, the bottom of the fence deer can slither under or even tunnel under! Wire needs to be taut, made of a strong material such as high-tensile steel, or have boards nailed along the bottom or a row of bricks under the fence and don’t forget the gate.