Evenley Wood Garden, talk by head gardener Dan Winter, 26 October
Dan has been Head Gardener at Evenley Wood Garden near Brackley for only three years, having moved from Waterperry, but is clearly deeply attached to this hidden gem.
The 60-acre site was bought by Tim Whiteley, a passionate plantsman and collector, in 1980, and laid out to take advantage of its band of acid soil, unusual for the area, enabling him to nurture ericaceous plants which would otherwise have struggled. Mr Whiteley passed away in 2017 at the age of 85.
Not a conventional garden but more of a wild garden or arboretum, Evenley is well known for its spring bulbs, especially swathes of named snowdrops, daffodils, the famous ‘scilla stream’, crocuses and cyclamen. To name but a few, hellebores, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and magnolias are all worth seeking out, with climbing and rambling roses and lilies notable in summer, and in autumn the colourful displays of acers and euonymous are spectacular. It’s a place you could never tire of.
Evenley Wood Garden has produced nine new plants, some of which are commercially available. They include a maple, Acer campestre ‘Evenley Red’, and Lilium ‘Evenley Jane’, named after Mr Whiteley’s wife.
As the website says, “It is a wonderful and beautiful place which is constantly changing with the seasons but is also of great importance and significance to many botanists, plantsmen and women and gardeners throughout the world.”
..It has also recorded 90 species of birds, something like 240 moth species, numerous butterflies and dragonflies and over 70 liverworts and mosses.
Visitors in earlier years will be please to learn that one of Dan’s initial tasks was to tackle the paths and drainage. With the help of about 20 volunteers, many woodland areas have been opened up where tree growth had started to affect the conditions for the spring bulbs. Dan has begun to introduce more perennials, and annual wildflower areas.
Other developments have been the improved café and the introduction of a wide range of events and activities for both adults and children.
As well as the year-round interest of the plants and trees, my personal favourite has always been the guinea fowl on their perambulations (last time I went they were actually perching in the trees), so although Dan didn’t mention them, I hope they’re still flourishing.
Evenley Wood Garden
Evenley, NN13 5SH
https://www.evenleywoodgarden.co.uk/
Clare Butler
