Plans for 2022

It’s been a colder week at Betley Court Gardens, and as I left this evening, droplets of dew on the grass looked as if they would freeze. The low winter sun looked beautiful as it set over the pond in the dingle, its rays raking across the landscape making long, atmospheric shadows. I spotted a twilight hunter – probably a barn owl – swooping along the boundary fence along the north side of the gardens, on its nightly quest for prey.

I’ve had the chance to do a little winter pruning on the pippin apple trees up on the paddock. It’s a job that needs to be done when the trees are dormant. My old horticulture lecturer, Harry Delaney always said it should be done before Valentine’s Day. The most pressing job was to clean up the pippin orchard, and in addition to removing the “Three D’s” – Dead, Diseased or Damaged branches, I removed limbs that were growing out into the pathways, to help Shane to manoeuvre the mower over the grass later in the season.

Some of the trees in our pippin orchard. Looking a little tidier after their winter prune

Up in the main house work is progressing on preparations to install the new water management system of drainpipes and gutters. Where Storms Arwen and Barra battered and tore the temporary roof, new panels have been installed. Dan, our electrician has installed new lights as these short winter days were proving to be too dark to work under the canopy.

We have a provisional list of dates for events in 2022 for open garden events. Further information will be available closer to the time. ***UPDATED***

DATE	ACTIVITY	DETAILS
12th March	Emes Society	Taster session – bulb planting ‘in the green’
13th March	Heritage tour of the Garden	Pre-booked event
9th & 10th April	Tours of the scaffolding and house showing the rebuild process	Pre-booked event
30th April/1st May	Official Opening weekend/Bluebell walk
16th & 17th July	Open Garden with Heritage Walk	Pre-booking required for walks
20th & 21th August	Tours of the scaffolding and house showing the rebuild process	Pre-booked event
8th & 9th October	Open Gardens	Talk and view exterior of Betley Court once the scaffolding is removed

 We’ll release more details as they become available on our social media, through the Dead Gardeners Society blog and future Parish News Magazines. Hope to see you there!

All best wishes

Ladybird Su