HOOKED ON CAPABILITY

LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN was our greatest-ever gardener – the designer of sweeping 18th- century landscapes that rejected Versailles-style formality for an idealised version of the English countryside. To celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth, w

We meet the custodians of the agnrdest gadrens designed by legendary 18th-ecntury landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Borwn

VISCOUNTESS WEYMOUTH LONGLEAT, WILTSHIRE

Emma Thynn has been châtelaine of this Elizabethan estate since her 2013 marriage to Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth (son of Lord Bath), who now runs the estate with its 900 acres of Brown-designed parkland.

THE CAPABILITY BROWN EFFECT Between 1757 and 1762, Brown, commissioned by the first Marquess, got rid of Longleat’s formal gardens and replaced them with green lawns and a ‘natural’ watercourse, so that the house appears to float above the last of a progression of manmade lakes. Brown moved a terrace, planted the Pleasure Walk and the arboretum and created a long drive flanked by rhododendrons and azaleas (which, these days, hide the famous safari park from view as you approach the house). ‘When you look at Longleat now it seems so natural, so rolling and perfect,’ says Emma. ‘It is as though that’s what was always there – I find it fascinating how revolutionary Brown was.’

FAVOURITE VIEW Heaven’s Gate, a viewpoint that looks from the top of a hill across the park to the house and beyond to the town of Frome in Somerset. ‘It’s spectacular; you can see everything from there. It’s very popular with the visitors. I love the east side looking over the lake, too. It’s the perfect place to take my son John for a walk with the dog.’

NEXT PROJECT Longleat has 20 members of staff in its grounds and gardens team. The walled kitchen garden is the next project, Emma says. ‘I’m going to grow tomatoes and other vegetables to make sauces to sell in Emma’s Kitchen, my shop inside the house. One of the hottest chilli sauces is already made [with chillies] from there!’

longleat.co.uk

EMMA WEARS DRESS, Pretty Dress Company. EARRINGS and BRACELETS, Accessorize. WELLIES, Emma’s own. Right: SHIRT, River Island. SKIRT, Coast