PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE PRESERVATION TRUST

11 AUGUST 2011

HISTORY TALKS AT THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE

Visitors to the Gardens of Easton Lodge will be able to learn more about the man who designed them, his life and inspiration when celebrated Harold Peto expert, Robin Whalley, leads walking tours at 1pm and 3pm on Sunday 21^st August. 

The tours start with a brief background, drawing on Peto’s diaries and showing how his travels and early experiences influenced his development as a garden designer.  Participants will then tour a series of locations in the garden where people can see and imagine how they used to be. 

Numbers are limited so advance booking is essential. 

Robin Whalley, who is also Chair of Trustees for the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust said:  “I am really looking forward to sharing my knowledge of the gardens and Harold Peto with our visitors and volunteers so that they can appreciate them still further.   Hopefully it will also help people understand why it is so important that these historically significant gardens are returned as far as possible to their former glory.”

Visitors will also have the opportunity to play croquet and enjoy delicious homemade cakes under the trees in the refreshment area; The Saffron Ice Cream Company will also be on hand with their locally produced range.

The gardens are open for just three more Sundays this season:  21 August, 18 September and 16 October.  Open from 12 noon until 6pm (last entry at 5pm) admission is just £2.50 for adults with children free of charge.  There are nature activities and long swings for younger visitors. Picnics are welcome, as are dogs on leads. 

Bookings for the tours on 21 August can be made by emailing enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or leaving a message on 01371 876979.  Further information is also available from the website at www.eastonlodge.co.uk.

The Gardens are located just outside Great Dunmow in Little Easton, off the B184 (Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden road).  Follow the brown heritage signs. 

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Background:  the gardens, in Little Easton near Great Dunmow, Essex, were one of the most important creations of the Edwardian designer Harold Peto.  His commission in 1902 came from “Darling Daisy”, the Countess of Warwick, who regularly entertained society guests there including the Prince of Wales before he acceded to the throne as Edward VII.

Designed in Italianate style around Warwick House which is set in the grounds, the gardens were maintained until 1950, after which time nature took over.  Tantalising glimpses of those designs have been resurfacing since 1993, when the restoration project began.  Today’s visitors can see Peto’s Italian Sunken Garden amongst other examples of his work and there is a small exhibition detailing the history of the gardens in the Dovecote.

The photograph shows a view of the Italian Garden as it was in Peto’s day.

 Robin Whalley – biographical information
Robin Whalley is a recognised authority on Victorian and Edwardian gardens and has made the work of Harold Peto a key area of research. His book The Great Edwardian Gardens of Harold Peto was published in 2007 and numerous articles by him on Peto have appeared over the years.  He was awarded a fellowship from Harvard University to study at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC in 1994 and was a consultant at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, and is a part-time lecturer at Cardiff and Bristol Universities. He regularly organises and leads garden tours and lectures widely on his subject. He is the co-author of Knot Garden and Parterres and contributes to many magazines. 

For further information, photographs and comment contact:  Helen Carter, Trust Administrator helen@the-old-barn.net, M: 0789 997 4107

The Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust is a company limited by guarantee
Registered in England No.4638621, Registered Charity No.1101442

PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE PRESERVATION TRUST

12 JULY 2011

 GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE SCOOP TOP VISITOR ATTRACTION STATUS

 After a two-year programme to get the gardens open to the public on a regular basis The Gardens of Easton Lodge have been rewarded with Visit England’s top award

 Hundreds of hours of largely voluntary support have been given by people from across Essex who are determined to ensure that the forgotten Edwardian gardens of Daisy, Countess of Warwick remain accessible and that restoration work continues.

 The ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction’ accreditation is a key part of Visit England’s hallmark assurance scheme, given only to venues offering a first class visitor experience.

 The recognition follows a comprehensive assessment of the Gardens, covering everything from the friendliness of the volunteer team, accessibility, quality of the catering, signage and plant stall as well as leaflets and the website.  Useful advice was also given in the report on enhancing the visitor experience still further in the future; complementing the marketing efforts that have developed in leaps and bounds since mid-2009.

 The award comes just ahead of the July opening of the Gardens this Sunday afternoon, 17 July, and gives a real boost to the hopes of the volunteer and trustee team for the future as they will be able to display the award logo on print and publicity materials.

 Trust Administrator Helen Carter commented:  “We’re all thrilled with the Visit England accreditation – it really shows how valuable community support has been to ensuring the survival of the Gardens.  As more people come to know the hidden treasure which they offer, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, marvellous landscape and unusual trees and plants, our dream of restoring the Gardens to their original glory comes closer.  We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with Visit England to reach this goal.”

 The gardens are only open on one Sunday per month until October and this month sees croquet back on the lawn with a visit from the Chelmsford & Bentley Croquet Club.   Open from 12 noon until 6pm (last entry at 5pm) entry to the gardens costs £2.50 for adults with children free of charge.  Homemade cakes, soup and bacon rolls are available from our refreshment bar and the Saffron Ice Cream Company will also be on site this month. There are nature activities and long swings for younger visitors. Picnics are welcome, as are dogs on leads.

 Further information is available from the website at www.eastonlodge.co.uk, by emailing enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or leaving a message on 01371 876979.

 The Gardens are located just outside Great Dunmow in Little Easton, off the B184 (Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden road).  Follow the brown heritage signs.

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PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE PRESERVATION TRUST

17 MAY 2011

 EDUCATIONAL LINKS HELP BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE

The Countess of Warwick would have been delighted to see the collaboration between volunteers and students from Felsted School which started at the Gardens of Easton Lodge this week.   Seven German students arrived for the first of six visits armed with spades and enthusiasm to spend two hours doing community service as part of their international baccalaureate.

 “Darling Daisy” held a lifelong desire to bring educational opportunities to a widespread audience across the community – as well as a passion for beautiful gardens - in her time pressing for better access to education and training for all.

The student’s efforts have already made inroads into the clearing of flowerbeds in anticipation of new floral plantings and they will be a great help when it comes to painting the new Tea Pavilion which will be erected in the grounds next month.

Commenting on their progress at the end of the first week, the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust’s Head Gardener Robert Hanchet said:  “English country gardens are renowned for their beauty and tranquillity – even when, as is the case with the Gardens of Easton Lodge, they are in need of so much work to restore them to their former glory.  The extra help we are getting over the six week period from our German volunteers will allow us to move forward more quickly and I hope leave us all with a lasting memory of working together on a very special project.”

The Gardens are open on one Sunday per month until October and the next opening is this Sunday, 22 May, from 12 noon until 6pm (last entry at 5pm).  Adults £2.50 and children free of charge.    As usual, delicious homemade cakes and soups will be on sale, together with a selection of hot and cold drinks. Picnics welcome, as are dogs on leads.

 Further information is available from the website at www.eastonlodge.co.uk, by emailing enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or leaving a message on 01371 876979.

PRESS RELEASE
ISSUED BY THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE PRESERVATION TRUST

12 APRIL 2011

GARDENS GO LIVE!

It’s full steam ahead this week at The Gardens of Easton Lodge as volunteers add the finishing touches before for the first of the season’s monthly openings this Sunday (17 April).

With the scent of blossom on the light spring breezes, the open day will provide the perfect opportunity to blow away the last of the winter cobwebs and get set for the prospect of sunny days to come.  It will also give the many visitors expected to pass through the gates on Sunday the first taste of the progress which has been made at the Gardens since last summer through the regular gardening sessions for local people with an interest in seeing the Gardens restored to their former glory.

 A well-stocked plant stall will be in situ for the afternoon with a range of plants tempting visitors to recreate a little of the magic of the estate so beloved of Daisy, Countess of Warwick in their own gardens.  Meanwhile, a new gazebo donated by Brian and Nora Royden-Hall will be erected for the provision of refreshments by the croquet lawn pending the construction in coming months of a new pavilion granted planning permission just last week.

Those who want a taste of what’s in store before the opening are invited to visit the brand new Gardens of Easton Lodge website sponsored by Business Link and designed by Creative Co-op at www.eastonlodge.co.uk.  The new site will allow people to follow progress in the gardens through the blogs, check on the events programme, sign up for news and much more.

 Commenting on the progress, Trustee Jim Boutwood said:  “We’re really moving forward with our programme of regular openings and towards our long term goal of restoration of the Gardens.  We are delighted that we’ve had so much support from the community on so many fronts.  Sunday’s opening will be the first opportunity we’ll have to say thank you to those who’ve given us their support – and to demonstrate to a wider audience just why we’re so committed to our goal.”

 The Gardens are located just outside Great Dunmow in Little Easton, off the B184 (Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden road).  Follow the brown heritage signs.  Open this Sunday (17 April) from 12 noon until 6pm (last entry at 5pm), adults £2.50 and children free of charge.  As usual, delicious homemade cakes and soups will be on sale, together with hot and cold drinks.

More information about getting involved as a volunteer, Trustee or Friend of the Gardens is available on the website or by emailing enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or leaving a message on 01371 876979.

The Gardens of Easton Lodge

The Gardens of Easton Lodge are located just outside Great Dunmow in Little Easton, off the B184 (Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden road).  Follow the brown heritage signs.

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 Background:  the gardens, in Little Easton near Great Dunmow, Essex, were one of the most important creations of the Edwardian designer Harold Peto.  His commission in 1902 came from “Darling Daisy”, the Countess of Warwick, who regularly entertained society guests there including the Prince of Wales before he acceded to the throne as Edward VII.

Designed in Italianate style around Warwick House which is set in the grounds, the gardens were maintained until 1950, after which time nature took over.  Tantalising glimpses of those designs have been resurfacing since 1993, when the restoration project began.  Today’s visitors can see Peto’s Italian Sunken Garden amongst other examples of his work.  Note that the museum in the Dovecote describing the history and heyday of the gardens in detail will be closed during the April opening due to building work at Warwick House.

PRESS RELEASE

ISSUED BY THE GARDENS OF EASTON LODGE PRESERVATION TRUST

22 MARCH 2011

  NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO DIG FOR DAISY

New life is being injected into the Gardens of Easton Lodge with the appointment of a new head gardener and regular volunteer sessions to support the restoration of the site made famous by Daisy, Countess of Warwick.

Robert Hanchet, graduate of Writtle College, has been appointed by the Trustees following their recent success in obtaining some £40,000 funding from the Life Raft Trust to secure the gardens’ future.

No stranger to the Gardens of Easton Lodge, Robert worked tirelessly in 2010 leading a volunteer team in the replanting of two of the beds in the Italian Garden, growing most of the plants from seed.  He now runs his own garden design company but was keen to continue his work with the Trust on a more formal basis as he is as passionate about the Gardens as they are.

His appointment means that there are now regular gardening sessions every other Thursday from 10am – 3pm at the gardens and the Trust is keen to welcome new volunteers to the team on a regular or ad hoc basis, even for just a few hours.  Experience is not necessary as Robert will be on hand to supervise and there are plenty of tasks for all levels of expertise.  All that is needed is enthusiasm and a desire to help the gardens be returned to their former glory.

Welcoming Robert Hanchet’s appointment, Trustee Jim Boutwood commented:  “This is a tremendous step forward for the Gardens of Easton Lodge which means we can now make strides in restoring those parts of the gardens that have been sadly neglected in recent years.”

More information about getting involved with the gardening sessions is available by emailing enquiries@eastonlodge.co.uk or leaving a message on 01371 876979. Anyone wishing to find out more about becoming a Trustee or Friend of the gardens is also invited to get in touch

  The next public open day is on Sunday 17 April from 12 noon to 6pm (last entry at 5pm) when the volunteer team will be serving refreshments by the croquet lawn.  See www.eastonlodge.co.uk for further details of this and subsequent open days.
 

The Gardens of Easton Lodge are located just outside Great Dunmow in Little Easton, off the B184 (Great Dunmow to Saffron Walden road).  Follow the brown heritage signs.

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