Renaissance garden
At Gordon Castle, designer Arne Maynard provided the vision for a walled garden that celebrates horticultural endeavour
At Gordon Castle, designer Arne Maynard has provided the vision for a walled garden that celebrates horticultural endeavour
The story of the walled garden is a familiar one – from heyday in the 1800s through decades of decline to more often than not being left abandoned. And yet, there is something about the history, location, practicality and opportunity these spaces offer that makes them irresistible to renovation and revival. But what if that walled garden is a vast, eight-acre plot? Where, as current owners of Gordon Castle Angus and Zara Gordon Lennox wondered, do you start in bringing such a huge, blank space back to life? Dating back to 1470, Gordon Castle began as a fortress for the influential Gordon clan. It was extended by the 5th Duke of Gordon into a vast, neoclassical mansion with a surrounding landscape of parterres, avenues and canals, along with a large walled garden. Here was a clear statement of import, requiring a fortune to run; in the 1850s, the garden staff alone numbered 40. Following decades were not so glorious, more recently relying for survival on the popularity of its salmon fishing on the nearby River Spey, while its walled garden was turned over to commercial raspberry growing, supplying local food manufacturer Baxters, located alongside the castle in Fochabers.
In 2008 the estate became Angus and wife Zara’s home, and it was clear that a plan was needed. “We wanted a whole vision that we could work to over the years,” explains Zara. “Something that made the estate part of our lives.” Having renovated the castle, they turned their attention to the garden – and eight blank acres, more akin to a windy field than a traditional walled garden. But while the field had been left to go fallow, the walls, an estimated one million bricks’ worth, were still lined with fruit trees that had been maintained by former head gardener Willie Robertson from 1948 right through to just a few years ago – 259 trees, including plums, apricots, figs and apples, some dating back hundreds of years.
And it was here that Gordon Castle’s new vision began – as a showcase for the growing and using of seasonal produce. To give the idea cohesion, Angus and Zara called in designer Arne Maynard. “The brief to Arne,” explains Zara, “was that we wanted a design for the next 100 years, and one that was totally in keeping with the ethos of a working, productive kitchen garden.”
Arne’s plan created a series of smaller, more manageable sections, each with its own purpose.
Entering the garden from the new café, you start at the vegetable beds. Produce is focused on what the café needs and where possible uses heritage or Scottish cultivars known to succeed in the area. Cutflower sections are divided into four colour schemes: Scotch Thistle in pinks and blues; Icy Glen with cooler blues, whites and greens; Golden Peat, hot colours with contrasting dark purples; and Glowing Heather in pinks and pastels.
At the centre of the garden is a newly constructed dipping pond surrounded by 3,000 lavender plants. Although laid out aesthetically the lavender is another crop – used to produce essential oil. Leading away from here, the pathway along the central access is lined with borders, the dimensions of which are the only element that Arne retained from the garden’s original layout.
As you reach the outer areas, Arne has taken a more varied approach. “The design was completely dependent on plants,” he says. “Instead of hard landscaping, we have used playful planted structures, such as a mown maze and raised landform ribbons to draw people around the garden.” A cherry orchard has been planted around the landforms, while another section is a quince meadow with an underplanting of wildflowers. The mown grass maze lends the garden a quieter, less managed appeal.
Two further sections include an inverted landform creating a performance space and a soft-fruit area. “We’re keen for raspberries,” says Ed, somewhat ironically given the garden’s history. “As well as for use in our own products, I’m talking to Baxters about growing ‘Morning Jewel’ for its signature jams.” Mr Baxter was one of the original gardeners here and used to take spare produce home for his wife to make into jams and soups, so it seems only right that the connection is revived.
Every element here aims to balance a working garden with a garden that looks good. “Visitors are key but the garden has to work really hard, so it’s making sure it doesn’t just look like a huge allotment, but somewhere that people want to visit,” notes Ed. There’s a lot of numbers involved in understanding this garden and its sheer scale, but its appeal is twofold. First, we are invited to watch its revival grow – quite literally – section by section, and second, the design is approachable and varied enough to engage gardeners and enthusiasts alike. The renaissance of the walled garden is in good hands at Gordon Castle.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Address Gordon Castle Walled Garden, Fochabers, Morayshire IV32 7PQ.
Tel 01343 612312 Web gordoncastle.co.uk
Open The Walled Garden is open daily from 10am-4pm, entry from £ 3.
Included in the ticket price is a guided tour with one of the gardeners. See website for details. See more planting designs at Gordon Castle over the next five pages.
Instead of hard landscaping, playful planted structures draw visitors around the garden