Guernsey Press

Saumarez walled garden rescued from the weeds

SAUMAREZ PARK’S Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden is set to reopen on Monday, after a team of volunteers clawed back the neat beds from a jungle of weeds.

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Back, left to right: Jill Tetlaw, head gardener, Carolyn Heath, Mary Knight, Hugh Johnson and Cathy Morgan. Front: Jayne Spicer and Joy Liggett. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 28407345)

The historic site is usually a grid of tidy beds, filled with fruit and vegetables popular in the Victorian era. But like many places, most of the volunteers had to keep away during lockdown, with just one person a day allowed to go in and do the watering.

As lockdown eased, a number of volunteers came in to do two-hour shifts to get the garden back in order.

Head gardener Jill Tetlaw said it was in a sorry state when they came back.

‘In the 10 weeks the weeds just took over,’ she said.

‘It was heartbreaking.’

She said the volunteers’ sheer hard work had brought it back, with just a few areas left to dig over. The group was unable to hold its normal plant sale in April, but fortunately a hedge veg stall became available where the plants sold very well, particularly while garden centres were closed.

The lockdown also delayed work on the long-awaited gatehouse. Even when work did restart, they had to juggle with the gardeners over how many people could initially be on site.

It is hoped it will be finished in the autumn, but this is subject to revision if they face further delays.

The garden team need to fundraise to cover their costs. One thing that has hit fundraising hard is the closure of their shop, La Choppe. But that is now ready to reopen on Monday as well.

Future events at the garden are still up in the air, but it is hoped they might be able to hold some in the autumn and at Christmas.

The garden and shop will be open from Monday, 10am-4pm on weekdays and 10am-1pm on Saturdays. Due to the building work, entry is through the family door by St John’s or through the small walled garden door near the main garden entrance. Entry to the garden is free. The shop will be selling hand-made craft items. There will also be seasonal produce on sale, including potatoes, herbs, raspberries and redcurrants.