News from Round and About

Rescuing the Rhododendron Walk

One of Temple Newsam's most popular features, the Rhododendron Walk,was planted in the 1950's using plants from Parcival Hall in North Yorkshire.   Many of these hybrids were created by Sir William Milner, a plant breeder, who produced many new varieties by crossing plants in his collection.

Over the last few years the Rhododendron Walk has begun to decline due to the age of the plants.   Many have become very large and "leggy" overgrowing the path, and the size and numbers of the flowers is decreasing.   The gardening staff have taken advice on the best way to rejuvenate the plants and they are proposing to undertake a phased scheme of pruning back and mulching.   This will allow light and air into the plants to encourage new growth and improve soil conditions.

The whole scheme will take up to ten years depending on how the plants respond to the pruning.   There will be some loss of flowering during the work but the final aim is to encourage large flowers and strong growth that will see the Rhohdodendron Walk last at least another fifty years.

Rhododendrons have been planted at Temple Newsam since early Victorian times onwards.   Although first seen in England in 1656, these plants were relatively uncommon in gardens until the great Victorian plant hunters explored the Far East, bringing back spectacular plants from the Himalayas and China.

In the woodlands today you will still see Rhododendron ponticum that was originally planted both for its lovely deep mauve flowers and also as an excellent game cover for the Winter shoot.   This species has now become invasive and requires careful management in woodlands and ornamental areas.

For more information please contact the Estate Manager, Temple Newsam.
Telephone 0113 260 8620.