NATIONAL TRUST REVEALS £3.5MILLION INVESTMENT RESULTS AT HIDCOTE MANOR
A newly restored semi-tropical plant house, a bathing
pool and summerhouse mural are just some of the results of ten
years of hard work and £3.5 million investment at Hidcote Manor
garden in Gloucestershire.
The National Trust has now completed a phase of
reinstating many of the key historic structures in this
world-famous garden thanks to the support of an anonymous donor,
who matched every pound raised by the Trust up to £1.6
million.
Created by American-born horticulturalist Major Lawrence Johnston,
Hidcote is one of the most inventive and influential gardens of the
20th Century. His creation was built around outdoor 'rooms' linked
by views and design features influenced by Arts and Crafts
design.
Elements of the ten acre garden fell into disrepair during the
1950s and as a result, ten years ago, the National Trust set itself
a target to recreate Hidcote as Johnston planned it.
National Trust gardeners and volunteers have spent a decade
researching and piecing together Johnston's original plans for the
garden. Head gardener at Hidcote, Glyn Jones, who led the team
working on the project, said: 'This has been a huge undertaking but
one that we're very proud of. We really feel that we have managed
to bring Johnston's vision back to life. Visitors will be able to
imagine Johnston and his guests enjoying the gardens, tennis courts
and bathing pool back in the 1920s, 30s and 40s as they wander
around.'
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