Easter Grounds Update
It’s been a very, very busy time for the grounds team at Compton Verney of late. I’m glad to report therefore that the lawns are thankfully very slow into grow this year – quite a relief all things considered!
We have been marching ahead with planning and carrying out various projects, not least being preparatory ground work for the Heritage Lottery Funded Re-viewing the landscape project. There is a long way to go but things are sounding exciting with planning for archaeology investigations, along with the working up of finer detail including architectural elements of the project. I’m looking forward to writing about this as we progress.
Grape hyacinth on the lakeside banks @ComptonVerney © 2015 Compton Verney/Gary Webb
In our headlights just now is the summer Arts and Crafts House exhibition, because this includes a commission on our humble West Lawn. I’m sure you’ll know by now that a William Morris inspired parterre has been designed by Dan Pearson, who has now furnished us with a the lovely design shown below.
Dan Pearson / William Morris Meadow at Compton Verney 2015
We have started the marking out early, as we need to begin mowing the footpaths before the grass grows too long, and so far so good. The design looks quite simple, but all things considered it is actually quite complex, with allowance made for trees and views etc. It certainly isn’t a walk in the park – at least not until the design matures in June! I’m really excited at the prospect of watching it grow this year, and also to see the effect of the seeding and ground works we carried out last autumn.
Daffodils aplenty! © Compton Verney / Gary Webb 2014
I’ll sign off for now, with a prompt to look to the Compton Verney website if you’re planning your Easter activities and visits. There are lots of things going on and plenty to see – both inside and out!
Happy Easter from Gary and the grounds team!