Michael, Adam, Kate, Tracy, Jo, Simon, Megan, Geoffrey and Sam come on Wednesdays and Thursdays and work alongside the gardeners, on both routine and specialised tasks. Jo has been Head Gardener at the Hall since December 2018. She has been a professional gardener for the last twenty years, running her own gardening business as well as collaborating with schools and community groups to develop other people’s skills and interests. Her interests are in traditional grassland and orchard management, as well as community growing and organic gardening.
The gardens are run on organic principles and we provide care and development for: formal herbaceous borders and lawns; meadows; topiarised yew and box, including a knot garden; standard, climbing and bush roses; pleached limes; a ‘Physic Garden’ of culinary, medicinal, strewing and dyeing herbs; a full-sized allotment planted with heritage varieties of vegetables and fruit; natural play elements such as mown paths and mazes, a willow den and muddy play; a coppice, using the cut stems to weave fences and plant supports as well as providing material for craft sessions; a ‘fedge’ (food hedge); a cut flower garden supplying flowers for the Hall, and a traditional orchard planted with old varieties of medlar, quince, pear and apple.
In addition to caring for the garden, we run workshops throughout the year, starting with winter pruning roses and fruit trees, followed by apple tree grafting sessions, summer pruning, and seasonal wreath making. We welcome visitors to our Blossom, Orchard and Apple Days, as well as host the annual Ordsall Hall Wassail.
We are piloting a new allotment project ‘Seed to Pot’ in the Allotment on a Wednesday morning, helping novice gardeners grow their own food. We also help to deliver holiday activities – Jack’s second day in post saw him helping to facilitate a den-building session for over 80 children. And, as part of the friendly Ordsall Hall team, we love chatting to our visitors, making them feel welcome, and answering any questions they might have, garden related or not.
Email us at horticulture@scll.co.uk if you have any questions!
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