PLACES TO VISIT
Recommended places to see seasonal plants at their best both in Europe and the UK One of the most famous parks for native plants in the Netherlands is Thijssepark near Amsterdam. It’s what in the Netherlands we call a heemtuin, a semi-wild landscape intended to show off indigenous wild flora and fauna at their best. It’s a concept that was first introduced in the 1920s by the famous Dutch biologist and conservationist Jac P Thijsse, after whom this park is named. Thijsse did much to popularise nature and conservation in the Netherlands and one of the ideas behind the parks was to encourage visitors, especially school children, to enjoy nature and learn to appreciate the richness of the country’s natural flora.
When we started our nursery in the early 1980s, we had initially planned to create a nursery that specialised in what are known in the Netherlands as stinzenplanten – plants that were introduced to the Netherlands from around the 16th century onwards that we now think of as native. These are combined with native flora to great effect in the Thijssepark. Hein Koningen, who for many years was the park’s administrator, supplied us with such plants that we’re still using to propagate from.
A lot of research work is undertaken at Thijssepark with different biotopes and closed plant communities. But it is also a lovely park to wander around, with an undulating landscape combining woodland, small lakes and meadows. It also has the largest collection of native plants and stinzenplanten, including
scilla, erythroniums, Corydalis cava and Corydalis solida, Prins Bernhardlaan 8 1182 BE Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Tel +31 (0)20 5404911, thijssepark.nl
Another Dutch garden, and one not far from our own in Groningen, is Tuinfleur. This private garden on the shores of the Oldambt Lake is made up of 12 areas. It’s famous for its snowdrops collection, but in spring there are thousands of bulbs in bloom and the garden also has a large collection of rare shadeloving plants, including more than 600 kinds of hosta. Well worth a visit. Nieuweweg 34, 9682 RM Oostwold, Gem Oldambt, the Netherlands. Tel +31 (0)597 551383, tuinfleur.nl
In the UK I’d recommend Hergest Croft Gardens, which is close to the Welsh border in Herefordshire. The gardens are lovely and offer fabulous views over the Black Mountains. In March and April the blue scillas and snowdrops give way to a host of white, yellow and trumpet daffodils. Ridgebourne Road, Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3EG. Tel 01544 230160, hergest.co.uk
One of our favourite UK nurseries in Marchants Hardy Plants on the South Downs. It’s an invaluable nursery, and we’ve known its owner, the very knowledgeable Graham Gough, since he was Elizabeth Strangman’s right-hand man at the famous Washfield Nursery in the early 1980s. We still grow and propagate some of the plants we received from him at that time. The nursery is a treasure trove offering a superb range of healthy, well-grown perennials. The nursery is open from March and from May to October you can also visit Graham’s garden, which though not large is well designed and diversely planted. We love it. 2 Marchants Cottages, Mill Lane, Laughton, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6AJ. Tel 01323 811737, marchantshardyplants.co.uk