Get the Bodnant look
Head gardener John Rippin explains how to create Bodnant’s colourful layered look in your own garden
Learn how to achieve a colourful, layered look in winter... with expert help
Bodnant, on the edge of Snowdonia in North Wales, is a garden that’s known for its spectacular spring colour, beautiful summer borders and fabulous autumn hues. At this time of year it’s the winter garden that takes centre stage and provides visitors with a welcome shot of seasonal colour. Head Gardener John Rippin tells us all about it.
When was Bodnant’s winter garden created? It was opened in early 2013; up until then the garden had closed at that time of year, which was typical for a National Trust garden. The area used to be a rockery for gentians, closed off to the public. We wanted to reward visitors for coming in winter and thought it would be good to have something that looked as beautiful as other parts of the garden during the rest of the year. The head gardener at the time, Troy Scott Smith, went off to see other winter gardens and came back full of ideas that could be created here on a smaller scale.
How did the design come about? At Bodnant we have an amazing backdrop to incorporate – the Carneddau mountains – and the existing rockery gave us undulations to work with. We kept some key plants with lovely structural shapes, and trees, such as birch and Prunus serrula, with its coppery bark, were added to create structure and vertical elements. The little intimate paths left over from the rockery also mean that, everywhere you look, there are different views of the planting.
What are the key elements?
The main colour comes from the cornus stems and birch and prunus bark. The trees also provide structure to anchor the whole scheme. Then there’s a whole range of more compact shrubs such as pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, golden conifers and winter-flowering heathers, which highlight and complement the brighter tones. Fragrant winter-flowering daphnes and witch hazels add some extra magic. The grasses too, with their bleached foliage and seedheads, provide a textural element and help to soften the brighter colours. They look amazing when there’s been a frost and the light catches them. ➤
How is the area still evolving? Sadly the colourful-stemmed willows didn’t thrive, so we replaced them with more dogwoods. Other plants did rather too well, such as the white-stemmed bramble Rubus cockburnianus, which is an absolute thug. It loved the fertile soil and overwhelmed other plants so we dug it out and replaced it with Rubus thibetanus. This is far more garden-friendly and its delicate silvery leaves also look good in summer. We’re adding more unusual snowdrops and hellebores each year, too. How can readers get the look at home on a domestic scale? If you can, create some raised sections or curving paths to add a bit of movement and drama, making your eyes move from one section to the next. And, try to place winter plants so they’re backlit – at Bodnant the garden faces south and west, which is ideal. Create layers with the planting. Use a tree or two with attractive winter bark for colour and height, then add some grasses and shrubs. Try to position scented plants near paths – sarcococca is a good choice if you haven’t got much space. Think about your colour combinations, for instance Bergenia purpurascens ‘Irish Crimson’ looks brilliant with grasses and hellebores. Pack spaces with bulbs such as Iris reticulata, Cyclamen coum, snowdrops and winter aconites. Winter plants need to be kept together so they contrast with one another. If you dot them about you won’t achieve the same dramatic impact. How do you keep it looking good? Before the winter season we mulch with a finely composted bark. Its dark colour creates a backdrop that sets off the bright hues; it also helps to keep the area weed-free and retains moisture in summer. When the season is over in March we cut down the grasses and brambles. We also prune the cornus every year because the new growth produces the most colourful stems and keeps the plants compact. How does the garden progress through the seasons? It actually looks really good in spring and autumn too, so it isn’t a one-trick pony. Daffodils and hellebores keep on flowering right through spring, and the new foliage on the trees and shrubs adds further colour. Then in autumn the cornus and trees provide fiery leaf colour and the grasses are at their peak.
Winter plants need to be kept together so they contrast with one another