The long-neglected gardens at the historic Hazelwood House are beginning to bloom again thanks to the efforts of head gardener
Mick Horkan. Mick, pictured left, is the head gardener responsible for restoring and maintaining the estate which surrounds the newly established Lough Gill Distillery, the owners of which also plan to restore Hazelwood House and its surrounds. A post on the distillery's Athrú Whiskey Twitter account states that the aim is “to revive and protect Hazelwood Estate as a historical and heritage garden while creating new and exciting landscapes around those that already exist; introducing new planting and colourful schemes throughout the gardens”. It goes on: “The last weeks here at Hazelwood Estate have been spent preparing overlooked areas with new beds for a burst of summer colour in the courtyard.” They have also identified the location of the old footpath at the rear of the house and brought it back and have planted the edges of each of the sets of steps with a combination of hydrangeas and catmint for summer flowering.