Killer grouse and other small dramas

It’s the last week before we open Betley Court Gardens for what we’re calling ‘an initial opening’. We’re calling it ‘an initial opening’ simply because our visitors’ hub, parking, and all-important toilet facilities, have not been built yet. We’re awaiting the outcome of request to fell trees before we get started, and this is quite a drawn-out process! Anyway, the opening, which we hope locals will attend on foot, will be run along the lines of the Bluebell Walks we used to do in the past.

There’s been a flurry of activity in the gardens. The two Mr O’s have been grafting on the paths, and yesterday created a ramp onto the lawn, for overflow parking. We’ve also been trying to drain the lake down in the Dingle in preparation for the arrival of the specialist construction firm, who hope to start work soon on essential repairs to the dam. Given that there has been an unprecedented amount of rain this June across the UK, its been more than a challenged, to say the least. As fast as the water drains out, flood water comes in to refill it! Had we not been draining the lake, floodwater may well have come over the top of the dam, as has happened in the past.

Flooded Tanhouse Brook

Floodwater overrunning the sluice

Floodwater thundering through the eel trap

There may be another reason the lake’s been so tricky to drain. Betley historically had two ‘big’ houses; the Court to the south of the village, and the Hall at the other end. At various times in history, the two households have been rivals, enemies and at others, family members have married. Betley Hall, once the country seat of the Tollets (amongst them the 18^th century Romantic poet Elizabeth Tollet) was demolished many years ago, but it lives on in the name of the housing estate that replaced it. The 17-acre ornamental lake and fishing pond remain too. The Hall’s lake and pond are fed by springs and watershed from local pasture, which converge to create Tanhouse Brook, which in turn meanders down through Betley Court’s lake onto Betley Mere.  I found myself wondering if sluice gates up at Betley Hall’s lakes had been opened in order to cope with all the rain we’ve been having, and hence our overflowing lake?

At one stage the floodwater was running OVER the footbridge

Elsewhere in the gardens, I’ve been planting up the formal parterre flower beds with one of the volunteers. There have been a couple of enjoyable visits to nurseries and garden centres between the rain storms (hello to regular blog reader, Sarah, who we met at Astbury Garden Centre during an especially violent downpour). It always astonishes me though, that a carload of plants actually looks so little once it’s planted up in the beds. One of the downsides of gardening a large garden. Ah, well, at least the new plants will have space to grow as the establish themselves.

We had a bit of horticultural drama when we arrived on Monday. The newly planted marguerites (Argyrantheum, or Paris daisy) looked as if someone had taken shears to them, and the pretty decapitated flowers were strewn all around. But if was only the marguerites, not the salvias, not the geums nor the dahlias. Just the marguerites. Who would do such a thing? What monster would steal into the garden and simply behead our lovely blooms?

My poor marguerites!

Who would do such a thing - decapitated flowers!

We got our answer after a tea break. We spotted two suspicious characters prowling around the sundial, and stealthily started photographing them as evidence. I presented the evidence to Mr O, the younger to see if he could identify them. Indeed, he could. Our vandals turned out to be PAIR OF GROUSE, no doubt refugees from a local shoot. This is, to my knowledge a first for Betley Court. Rabbits, yes, squirrels too, but grouse – that’s new. Little varmints!

No point trying to look innocent - the guilty felons

Before we left for the day, we fashioned plant protectors from buckets and carrier bags, and I’m glad to say the marguerites survived the night.

Makeshift flower protectors

They’re now protected with chicken wire collars, and I have to say, I only saw one grouse yesterday, running along the fence, calling for its mate. I have a horrible feeling Tom, the house cat may have meted out his own punishment on our feathered felons and eaten one of them. We’ll have to wait and see.

Tom, the house cat, on guard

Tom, the house cat, just getting in the way

Just a reminder that we will be open from 11am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm) on Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd. We’d like to remind visitors that parking is limited and that we have no toilet or refreshment facilities yet.  I do recommend visitors check out Betley Court Farm Tea Rooms. They serve excellent cakes, and proper leaf tea.

Hope to see you there!

Ladybird Su