A historic South Lakeland hall is holding several events tomorrow to mark its inaugural World Topiary Day celebration.
Levens Hall and Gardens, near Kendal, has created the celebration of all things topiary.
Taking place on the day that was traditionally set aside for Levens Hall’s Radish Feast – a jamboree of fun, games and downing of its famous Morocco Ale founded in the late 17th century – World Topiary Day will provide visitors with the opportunity to explore over 100 pieces of topiary, with the help of head gardener, Chris Crowder.
With over three decades of caring for pieces like Elizabeth I and her Maids of Honour, the Judge’s Wig and the Great Umbrella, under his belt, Chris knows all there is to know about the amazing 17th century garden and its individual pieces.
He can also reveal what it takes to keep the Great Umbrella – one of the 50 Great British Trees, according to the Tree Council in 2002 – in tip-top topiary condition.
Chris will lead free tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, which will explore the history of the garden, offer tips on creating and caring for topiary and provide insight into how pieces got their names.
There are quizzes and other activities for adults and children to take part in on the day, but the aim is for everyone to have fun on World Topiary Day, even if they cannot visit mid-week.
On the day, which is also National Limerick Day, Levens Hall is asking for limericks on the theme of topiary, with a prize of a 2021 family season ticket for the best.
It is also running a children’s story competition, which asks children to create a story about the day that one of its pieces of topiary came to life.
The competition has a closing date of June 30, so there is plenty of time for children to visit the Topiary Gardens for inspiration and for local schools to get involved.
The winner will receive a trophy and a £60 voucher to spend on children’s gardening or nature exploration items at retailer, Little Pals, whilst two runners-up will receive trophies.
Any school entering its pupils into the competition will be offered a special admission rate, if it wishes to visit the Topiary Garden to inspire its young minds.
Levens Hall will also have tips on its website, which will help home gardeners with their own topiary creation and care.
Meanwhile, there will be topiary inspired food in the contemporary Levens Kitchen and the Levens Hall and Gardens shop will also have topiary-themed items to explore and buy.
The rest of the 10-acre gardens can also be explored, discovering the 30,000 bedding plants grown at Levens Gardens each year, the Rose Garden, Orchard, Willow Labyrinth, Beech Circle and the Fountain Garden, with its pleached lime borders, created in 1994, to celebrate the garden’s 300th birthday. There is also one of the oldest ha ha features in the UK.
Regular admission charges will apply on World Topiary Day, despite the additional activities and the gardens will be open from 10am to 5pm. The gardens will then be open as usual, without the special World Topiary Day activities, until October 7, 2021.
Levens Hall will be able to reopen its doors on May 17, in line with the Government’s COVID-19 roadmap. Entrance to Levens Kitchen alone is possible without paying for admission.
Levens Hall’s head gardener, Chris Crowder, says: “We are very excited about being able to celebrate World Topiary Day, which will be a great start to our season and a means through which we can raise exposure for the world’s oldest topiary garden and entice visitors throughout the year. We’ll be marking the occasion with the planting of a new piece of topiary, which can be nurtured and enjoyed by future generations.
“Topiary is a very special gardening artform and we would love to inspire more people to take it up through our social media and promotional activities around this special day.”
