Praise be!
Revamp of 16th century Bishops’ garden wins a prestigious award
AGrade II listed garden has scooped a top award for a project showcasing its importance in introducing new plants to the UK. The grounds of Fulham Palace, the historic home of the Bishops of London, are currently being restored, with the 2.5 acre walled kitchen garden gaining the award from the Society of Garden Designers.
The venture included replacing the old, derelict glasshouse with a new, historically-styled model, relocating paths to their historic positions and developing diagonal vegetable plots.
A box-edged knot garden recalls one from 1831 with ornamental plantings and an apple orchard of 47 different historic varieties.
Further plantings last year included wall-trained fruit bushes and an 80m (263ft) apple and pear arch. Produce from the garden is sold to visitors and a local restaurant.
Now the garden team is re-establishing plant species first introduced to the Palace and to Europe by botanist and influential cleric Bishop Henry Compton between 1675 and 1713. New exotic species from the USA, such as the tulip tree liriodendron, Magnolia
virginiana, liquidambar
and scarlet oak, among many others, were sent by missionaries to the Bishop.
Head gardener Lucy Hart said: “Our quest is to tell this story further and the work we’ve done in the walled garden is just the start!” ● The garden is open free every day. Tel: 020 7736 3233 or visit www.fulhampalace.org.