Installing Christmas…

Its another time of year when grounds teams across the land get creative and join in with decorating their properties in the name of Christmas. OK, so it’s only mid November, but with temperatures lowering, nights drawn-in, and festive adverts on TV; we can’t hold it back much longer!

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Here’s just a few teasing images to show that the #CVGrounds team are getting festive too, but naturally, we like to do things that little bit differently at Compton Verney. The grounds team have put aside the planting for the time being, thought long and hard whilst sipping our gardeners tea, and have hopefully come up with something a little different this year.

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Our portico trees have today been lifted into position, and even with mechanical assistance from our neighbouring farmer, I can confirm that they certainly put up a fight! They’re a popular addition to the front of the mansion, and look so beautiful that we just can’t deviate from this decorative approach, but inside the mansion….

 

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We have gone for something altogether more natural – well sort of! Yes it is a little different, but the initial response from visitors is very positive – thankfully! Of course, opting for a different approach has certainly brought its challenges, but with a little creativity here and a little elbow grease there, I think we could be onto a winner – but then we’ll let you be the judge of that!

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We’ve quite a bit yet to sort out, a few improvements and extra decorations maybe, but our contribution to internal festive decoration should be all complete by the weekend. Before we know it we’ll be back to more normal grounds activity for the time of year. Ah – before that we have to create the Christmas wreath for the Adam Hall doors…

 

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We’ll create this from materials found around the grounds, and offcuts from our Christmas trees, but once again expect something different – a gardener can be quite inventive with a pair of pruners and some garden wire!

Hope to see you at Compton Verney soon, and do make sure to tour the grounds whilst you visit – the London Plane trees are looking particularly stunning in the autumn sunshine just now. If you like our Christmas installation, we’d love to see and share some images via facebook or twitter

Gary Webb

Head of Landscape and Gardens