Scampston Walled Garden

A friend of mine, the talented artist Ann Davies (see here) had an exhibition over the summer at Scampston Walled Garden near Malton. The paintings displayed were a series, in ink and watercolour wash, called 'Glasshouses of Yorkshire'. The newly renovated glasshouse at Scampston was one of those featured. Although it's an hour and a half's drive from here, I went with some friends to enjoy the exhibition and the garden.

Scampston Hall itself is privately owned by the St Quintin/Legard family and has belonged to the same family since 1700. It has extensive gardens and parkland created by 'Capability' Brown. The Walled Garden had been derelict for over 50 years. In 1999, the Legard family enlisted the help of the renowned Dutch plantsman, Piet Oudolf, who has designed a beautiful contemporary garden combining naturalistic drifts of perennial plants alongside 'rooms' with clipped box, yew and pleached limes providing structure. The perennials were a little past their best when we went but it is still an exciting and unusual garden and well worth visiting. Nice café too.