Some summer flowers and a little sunshine to bring cheer to a winter’s day.
In August 2016 we visited Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire with the Black Pear Gardening Club.
Trentham is an award winning garden which has won numerous awards including BBC Countryfile’s Garden of the Year 2015.
There is a large Garden Centre and Shopping Village, restaurants and a 119 bedroom Premier Inn Hotel.
There is a separate entrance to the Monkey Forest, which our coach first took us to, here you can walk amongst 140 free roaming Barbary macaques, in a natural woodland setting for this endangered species.
For added excitement there is ‘Aerial Extreme’, a treetop high rope adventure course.
History.
In 1786 the 2nd Earl Gower, owner of Trentham was created Marquess of Stafford.
He commissioned, Lancelot ’Capability’ Brown, between 1759 – 1780 to enlarge the lake, create parkland, a Ha-Ha and build two lodges at the end of the lake.
In 1803 the 2nd marquess of Stafford married Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, one of the wealthiest heiresses in the country. Their son George Granville, 2nd Duke of Sutherland along with his architect Charles Barry were responsible for much of what you see today at Trentham. His statue sits on the top of high land at the southern end of the lake.
Barry created the famous Italian Gardens, dividing it into three terraces.
By the late 1800’s the pollution of the River Trent from the pottery industries was so severe the lake and the fountains were ruined.
In 1905 The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland abandoned the house. It was eventually sold and demolished for building materials.
The property has passed through several different owners with The Department of Environment listing several of the remaining buildings. Eventually, in1996, it came into the ownership of St Modwen Properties PLC.
Their plan was to create a tourist and leisure destination and to restore the estate and gardens. They were finally granted permission in 2003 to start on their £100m development of Trentham.
You enter the gardens through the shopping village via this bridge over the river Trent.
Titania points the way to her 14 fairy friends from the shopping village. Each fairy is different, they are placed all around the garden for children (and adults ) to find. They were created by Robin Wight.
At the centre of Trentham Gardens is the mile long, Capability Brown designed, Trentham Lake. Along some of the walks around the lake are new meadows by Nigel Dunnett and the team who were responsible for the wildflower plantings at the Olympic Park. These were planted to celebrate the centenary of Capability Brown.
The contemporary revival of the famous Italian Gardens was led by renowned designer and multi-Chelsea gold-medal winner Tom Stuart-Smith.
Along one side of the Italian garden is a 90 metre Rose Garden, planted with David Austin roses and a trellis walk.
To the east of the Italian Gardens are the Rivers of Grass and the adjacent Floral Labyrinth.
Both these schemes were designed by the Dutch plantsman, and Chelsea gold-medal winner, Piet Oudolf.
The fairy “Anahi” was living on the Giant Dandelions.
The Giant Dandelions were created by Robin Wight’s daughter Amy, and are situated alongside the lake.
“They look wonderful with the Wildflower Meadow as a backdrop.
‘Spring’ the naughty nymph, appears as though she’s pole-vaulting from a delicate dandelion into the landscape beyond.
There were even snowdrops in August!
If you are looking for a garden to visit in 2017, this is one I would highly recommend.
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Canon EOS 1100D. Canon,18-200mm lens. Canon wide-angle lens, 10-18mm.
brimfields.com 
Beautiful photos. I’d like to visit Trentham sometime. I visited Stowe also designed by Capability Brown last year.
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Thank you, we also visited Stowe last year, Trentham is not as big, we found Stowe quite tiring to walk all round, and due to other design influences there is more colour at Trentham.
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I found Stowe lacking in colour which I found a little disappointing too.
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I don’t think Capability Brown was into colour, his gardens were predominantly parkland, trees and shrubs.
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That is a place we will undoubtedly hear more of, there are some big name designers involved. Good to see. And doesn’t it look marvellous for it.
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The pictures don’t really do it justice Jessica. It has around 3 million visitors a year!
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It looks beautiful with plenty to see.
By the way I have to remove your blog from my bloglist as the thumbnail associated with the post was huge and disrupted my sidebar. I’m not sure whether it is something you have control over.
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i have left a reply on Google+ Sue.
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I have never visited the gardens there but they do look rather appealing. Love the snowdrops!
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It is worth it if you can Cathy,and along with the shops easily an all day venue.
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I am sure I would enjoy visiting the gardens but I am not so sure about the fairies. I think you have to actually be there to get the feel of the inanimate objects. Amelia
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I think the fairies are quite fun especially for children trying to find them.
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I was sure that I commented on this – I think my blog and yours have fallen out Have I been popped in your spam.
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Hi Sue, I have found your comment in the spam box, hopefully it will be ok. Thank you for your perseverance.
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Thank you for this tour round Trentham, I am hoping to visit later this year.
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My pleasure Chloris, I am sure you will enjoy it.
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I haven’t visited Trentham since the whole place was revamped – although even 30 or so years ago I recall them having a decent garden centre before good garden centres became more common. Definitely on my wish list, despite the cost of entry! Thanks for giving me this taster – and I for one like the fairies and dandelions!
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You can easily spend the whole day there Cathy, that is without all the shops and the garden centre. I thought the dandelions were spectacular especially the one where the seeds appear to be floating away.
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Trentham has gone through a massive change during my lifetime. I have wonderful memories of childhood visits there when I had great fun splashing about in the fountains with my friends. Is one of those flowerbeds a former fountain? I returned in the 1990s, and it was, quite frankly, one of the most depressing gardens I have ever visited. Now it looks fabulous! I will have to go back.
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This was my only visit Sarah, I had read about the more recent developments, therefore it had long been on my wish list.
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Oh I really enjoyed your post Brian. Sadly I had to cancel a much anticipated first trip there planned for last August along with a regular excursion to the Southport Flower Show. Hopefully both will be on the cards this year. When in August did you visit?
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We visited on the 22nd Anna.i hope you get there his year, it is a wonderful garden. I will google southport flower show to have a look.
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