Newby Hall flower power

One of the country’s most important and beautiful 20th century gardens – Newby Hall – will be making 2018 ‘The Year of the Border’ when its flagship double herbaceous border reaches peak flower power.

The border, one of the longest in the country, is packed with around 6,500 plants and is set to stun visitors this year as it begins to hit full maturity. The border has been a highlight of Newby’s beautiful 25-acre gardens since the 1920s and five years ago underwent complete refurbishment to ensure that it continues to wow visitors for years to come.

Star plants in the two-metre-deep border include Agapanthus, Aster, Campanula, Eryngium, Iris, Persicaria, Salvia, Sedums and Veronicastrum. Drifts of softer pastels will be strengthened by vibrant lilacs, magenta pink, lime green, claret and silver, all colours reflected in the trees beyond. Architectural plants will contrast with the more traditional cottage garden favourites to give a full season of colour and interest.

Over several growing seasons, thousands of new plants were propagated or grown on and carefully planted up in a new, more naturalistic design by Newby’s expert team. The border, which runs from the magnificent 17th century house down to the River Ure, is certainly set to show off all the hard work with the maturing of the plants this year.

The scale of the border means that staking the plants in the spring takes three days alone, while cutting back in the autumn can take over a fortnight.

The gardens are home to an impressive National Collection of Cornus (Dogwoods) and a New World Salvia collection as well as one of the most historic and diverse orchards in the North of England planted in 1897.

Newby Hall opens on 30th March and has a packed calendar of events this year including Easter Family Fun Days, Italian Cars & Bikes Rally, Tractor Fest and an outdoor performance of The Tempest by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

Newby Hall is a William and Mary house located between Ripon and Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire and was built in the 1690s. Owner Richard Compton is the 10th generation of his family to live at Newby. Richard’s wife, Lucinda, is the Curator of the Gardens and is President of the North of England Horticultural Society, which organises the very successful Harrogate Flower Shows.

There is lots to see in the house itself including one of the largest and most complete collections of Thomas Chippendale furniture in the country. As this year marks the tercentenary of Chippendale’s birth, the event will be celebrated in the garden with a larger than life replica of a Chippendale chair for visitors to experience and interact with.

For details of opening times, events and visitor information please visit: http://www.newbyhall.com

All photographs are ©Newby Hall