Welcome to the gardens at Yewbarrow House

In this sheltered corner of Grange-over-Sands we have growing conditions which are closer to Cornwall than Cumbria. So we have had a lot of fun experimenting with weird and wonderful exotics, waiting in dread for the next hard winter. We hope you enjoy this tour of our garden. Have fun!

Many thanks to all those who braved the rain on our open days in 2008. We are on target to raise well over £4,000, which will be another record for us and for Cumbria.  Our open days for 2009 will again be the first Sunday in the month between June and September (June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd and September 6th). Cream teas will be served! Hope to see you then! Please come if you get the chance. Organized groups are welcome on other days, by arrangement.

For those who are curious about the garden and the plants which we grow here, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:

How large is the garden?

4 ½ acres, of which about half is woodland.

What are the growing conditions?

The garden faces south-east. The soil is free-draining loam and is neutral - i.e. not particularly acid or alkaline. We apply a mulch of 50 tons of horse manure to the soil each year. The climate in Grange is sunnier and drier than in the rest of Cumbria. Rainfall here is about 40 inches a year. We get about 30 ground frosts each winter, with the temperature sometimes falling to as low as -7C in the greenhouse.

How do your sub-tropical plants survive the winter?

The really tender plants such as the Dahlias and Aeoniums are brought indoors for the winter but most of the tender plants are left outside, unprotected.

They survive because of the excellent drainage, because the sharp frosts are usually followed by warm sunny days and because of the shelter provided by the surrounding woodland.

Do you have any help in the garden?

Yes, we have two part-time gardeners, who each work three days a week.

When was the garden made and which are your

favourite plants?

Apart from the kitchen garden, the entire garden has been developed since we bought the house in the autumn of 1999. When we arrived the gardens were badly overgrown, so much so that the view of the Bay was completely obscured by overgrown trees. The first job was to get permission to cut down 42 trees and to erect a fence around the perimeter to keep out the rampaging deer. Since then we have developed one part of the garden each year:

2000: The Sunken Garden

Originally the gravel drive came right to the front door and was bordered by a grassy bank. The sunken garden was created to provide a flat area for our young children to play on. Under the grassy bank we found the magnificent limestone outcrop. The highlights of the sunken garden are the Grevillea Rosemarinifolia, which flowers for ten months of the year, the Lobelia Tupa with its enormous bright red flowers and the Pine Tree, Pinus Patula.

The Kitchen Garden

The ground was cleared and a structure of ornamental box hedging was planted. We later added the ornamental fruit cage and the frames for the strawberry beds and extended the greenhouse.

2001: The Fern Garden

Using ferns transplanted from elsewhere in the garden as well as some specimen tree ferns and some unusual varieties such as Woodwardia Radicans and painted Japanese ferns. In the same year we planted a yew hedge in front of the deer fence and 89 mop-headed hydrangeas were removed and given a better home with folk who appreciate these plants more than we do.

2002: The gazebo and the Japanese Garden

Featuring a “hot spring“ pool, lined with pebbles, and a moon viewing platform. In fact the pool is a heated swimming pool, with all the works hidden in the Tea House.

2003: The Italian Terrace

The Italian Terrace replaced a sloping lawn. The highlights of the terrace are our collection of “species” dahlias, especially the Tree Dahlias, which grow to 12ft. The tree Dahlia Imperialis came into flower on 6th December 2006, which was the first time that this variety of tree Dahlia has ever flowered outside in the north of England. The Italian Terrace also contains a number of plants, such as the Ferdinanda and the Uhdea which were very popular in Victorian times but had died out in England until we re-introduced them in 2005.

2004: The Gravel Garden

This sheltered area is where some of the most exotic tender plants can thrive. The Echiums, whose flower spires tower to 14ft self-seed freely in this part of the garden. They need to survive two winters before they come to maturity. Other special plants in this area are the Passion Flowers growing up the towerwall, the Beschonerias, which produce 6ft long flower spires in the spring and the Curculigos, with their unusual ribbed leaves.

2005: The Prospect Tower

The Prospect Tower was built to take advantage of the view towards the Yorkshire Pennines.

The Potting Shed.The potting shed is constructed around two pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows, rescued from a church in Yorkshire.

2006: The Trial Beds

This is where we grow Dahlias from seed. Only the species Dahlias come true from seed - the hybrids produce a new plant every time. We use this section of the garden to experiment with new varieties. The consequence is that all the Dahlias in this section are unique to this garden and from June onwards they provide a dazzling display. Originally this area was wasteland covered in brambles. Around the trial bed are espaliered apple trees and a selection of cherry trees.

2007: The Olive Grove

The 1,000 year old olive trees are interplanted with ancient vines.

The Sculpture Garden

The sculptures, which are carved out of the limestone rock are the work of Alan Ward, who also carved the inscriptions seen elsewhere in the garden.

2008: The Meathop Bridge Arch

The arch is made out of reclaimed stone from the ancient Meathop Bridge, which was demolished to make way for a modern bridge. It was inspired by the “Roman Wall” which the famous Victorian garden writer, Shirley Hibberd, made in his garden in Stoke Newington and which he planted up with Sempervivums, as is ours.

­The PALM HOUSE

This replaced a rather ugly polytunnel and is designed to house tender exotics which need warmth throughout the winter, such as Strelizia Nicolai and Colocasia.

Our special thanks to:

Carl Taylor, builder from Allithwaite, and his men,who are responsible for nearly all of the building work and walling in the garden.

Robert Moorhouse from Flookborough, who has done all of the ironwork.

Alan Ward, who has carved all the sculptures and engravings.

Jack Gott, from Milnethorpe, who has supplied and looks after the magnificent Dahlias.

Ken Postlethwaite and Matt Wilczynski who look

after the kitchen garden.

Christopher Holiday, Garden Designer, who gave invaluable advice and helped with the planting in the early years.

Tim Longville and Linda Orchant, also for their invaluable help and advice.

For Plant supplies:

Inglefield Plants, Staveley

Beetham Nursery, Beetham

Caths Garden Plants, Heaves, Kendal

Architectural Plants, Nutfield, Sussex

Cautionary Note:

We are sure that all our our visitors will be sensible and will take care on the slippery paths and steps. Please note that the garden is full of hazards, not least the spikes of the Agaves and other tropical plants. Some plants, especially the lavenders and echiums will be covered in bees, so there is a danger of bee stings if the bees are disturbed.

These gardens are visited at the visitor’s own risk and no liability is accepted by the owners for any injury or damage which may be suffered, howsoever caused.

Jonathan and Margaret Denby

Yewbarrow House, Hampsfell Road, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6BE

www.yewbarrowhouse.co.uk

Email: jonathan@bestlakesbreaks.co.uk

Telephone: 015395 32469

“The idea that Grange is only a winter or early spring resort, and that in summer it is extremely hot and enervating, is very erroneous, as in the warmest weather there is always a refreshing breeze blowing gently in from the open expanse of the estuary, and its ozonic properties are most relaxing.”

Mason’s Pocket Guide to Grange-over-Sands, 1901