Seasonal Information – Spring
Welcome to our garden page…bringing you our gardening news throughout the year…
What’s growing in the gardens.
Blooming Marvellous!!
Spring 2024 sees the beginning of our three-year plan to restore and develop our gardens and grounds. We know the gardens at Charney play
a vital role in the experience of many people staying with us whether on a week-long course or just an overnight B&B.
We want our precious outdoor space to offer even more, so a little landscaping, rejuvenated borders and more tree planting are some of the tasks
we’ve set ourselves for the coming year. We’ll be fencing in the kitchen garden and aiming to grow much more for our chefs to use in their delicious meals .
That means no food miles just a few food paces! You can already enjoy Charney Apple Juice pressed from our old orchard trees, now beautifully pruned
and productive. The gardens will take on a teaching role by featuring in our “Gardening your Soul– in Autumn” course.
We’d also very much like to take on an apprentice gardener when funds allow so we are investigating suitable grant funds.
We’d welcome donations for the garden fund– small or large– to help grow Charney Manor gardens for future generations. Look us up on Just Giving
What wildlife to look out for
We have a wide variety of birds including Owls that you’ll hear.
Regular rabbits (not so welcome!) occasional foxes and Muntjak deer strolling by. We also set up a wildlife camera to take a look at our animal visitors. This will help us know what plants and crops need protection.
Its spring and we have lambs … they are very friendly and love to wonder over and see the guests !
Charney Garden Volunteering
Our head gardener Michael Scott works with us two day’s a week and would welcome some volunteers to help our garden restoration grow faster! Alongside garden Trustee Deb Arrowsmith they are keen to provide a variety of jobs for all skilled or unskilled enthusiasts in return for tea, coffee and loads of cake! Whether you have an afternoon o whole day to spare, we’d welcome the help. There’ll also be occasional “Mobhanded Days” to join in with a group to tackle a bigger projects like tree planting or compost bay building! How can you resist?
For a chat about volunteering to restore Charney Manor Gardens contact Deb by email: deb@growing-concern.co.uk or phone on 07899 754767.
A bit about Michael Scott – Charney Manor Gardener
I was brought up in Coldstream, Berwickshire, and developed an interest in gardening as a teenager. This continued throughout my working career in country sports, producing summer planting displays aroundThe Kennels and lots of lawn care through the growing months. I obtained an allotment some seven years ago which has produced an endless supply of food for the table. I decided to quit my day job three years ago to achieve a better work life balance. I then took an RHS course to pursue my passion for gardening professionally. Since then, I have built up a small gardening business which I am thoroughly enjoying. My biggest dislike in gardening is persistent cold rain, while the thing I love most is harvesting good quality produce and smelling the roses on a warm Summer’s day. Heaven.
Gardens & Grounds News - Spring 2024
Explore our gardens and grounds.
Everyone loves a walk through a beautiful garden – it helps restore our balance.
You are welcome to wander and explore! We are beginning an ambitious restoration of the gardens and grounds here. We’ll be weeding, planting and pruning. We will be raising some plants, re-stocking some borders and re-imagining some new places to grow. We are committed to working towards organic and sustainable gardens– and that will take some time. We also need to grow our garden team!
We have one part-time gardener and one volunteer – you may find them in the garden – please say hello, ask us questions and let us know what the garden means to you.
You’ll find labels where we know the plants!
Areas we are renewing are clearly marked.
You’ll also find any plants we have for sale on the bench near the car park.
You can help us by donating and that will grow our garden even faster for all.
Meanwhile – “Walk Cheerfully” with us…one step at a time.
Gardens cost money we know- but, like the course that brings you to Charney Manor, they nourish and support our wellbeing too! If you can help us- please donate to our gardens and grounds restoration– call in to the office for details or visit our just giving page to donate to our garden project : www.justgiving.com/campaign/charneymanorgardens
You can also contact our Garden Trustee Deb Arrowsmith for further details deb@growing-concern.co.uk
Stars of the Garden
Guest often ask us what the lovely pink blossoming tree is outside reception. It’s a Cercis siliquastrummore commonly known as a Judas Tree. There is a myth that it’s named after
the tree Judas hung himself from which is why the white blossom turned to pink. In fact, it’s more likely to refer to the region of Judea in the middle east where it grows abundantly
We are developing a 3 year plan beginning an ambitious re-imagining of the Charney Manor Gardens and grounds 2023-2026. We have limited funds but are determined to make our gardens enhance the peace and tranquility so appreciated by all those who come here on courses and events. We want to follow an organic and sustainable path, propagate and grow interesting ornamental plants vegetables and fruit and provide produce for our kitchen. The peace of this place is special to us and we want to share it. Please help us if you can. First, we have to plan a step at a time.
If you would like to support our Garden development, please contact the office to donate or donate directly through our just giving page : www.justgiving.com/campaign/charneymanorgardens