Popular garden will Spring to life thanks to Friends’ group
Lydiard Park’s Walled Garden will be transformed into a sea of colour after thousands of bulbs were planted following a generous donation.
Published: Monday, 16th December 2024
The Friends of Lydiard Park donated £2,500 to the Swindon Borough Council-owned country park to make its 18th Century Walled Garden even more beautiful for visitors.
Lydiard’s Head Gardener, Andy Dyer, used the donation to design a display within the garden’s flower beds using 9,000 spring flowering bulbs including Tulips, Hyacinths and Narcissi.
And over the last few weeks Andy and fellow Lydiard gardeners Chloe Dyer and Helen Byrne, supported by the Council’s Grounds team, have joined volunteers to plant the bulbs, which will create a stunning mixture of colour and flowers to benefit the early pollinators.
The Walled Garden, which sits behind the Coach House café, was built in the 1740s by the St John family with the rhombus-shaped garden used to grow flowers and fruit as well as providing a pleasant place for the family to stroll after dinner.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning who is responsible for the Borough’s country parks, said: “I’d like to say a massive thanks to the Friends of Lydiard Park for their extremely kind donation.
“The Walled Garden is one of the Borough’s most beautiful and tranquil places and we are really fortunate to have such a dedicated team of gardeners who put so much time and effort into ensuring it remains a stunning flower and fruit-growing garden as it was originally intended.
“I know Head Gardener Andy has spent ages meticulously designing this latest display and I am sure visitors will be amazed by the wonderful colours when the flowers come to life in the Spring.”
Sarah Finch-Crisp, Chair of The Friends of Lydiard Park, said: “Tulips and sweet-scented spring flowering bulbs are something everyone can enjoy.
“Lydiard’s Walled Garden was created to show off the St. John family’s prize plants in the 18th Century and we hope this display of historic varieties will bring equal pleasure to many more people.
“The garden was restored 20 years ago following detailed archaeological investigations and remains a beautiful spot to visit at any time of year. The Friends of Lydiard Park were partners in that original project and are delighted to be funding the new display.”
To find out more about the Walled Garden, including opening times and admission prices, visit the Lydiard Park website: www.lydiardpark.org.uk/visit/walled-garden/
Further information about the work of The Friends of Lydiard Park is available on the charity’s website: www.friendsoflydiardpark.org.uk