News Article

 

Mannington Hall Celebrates Opening For The National Gardens Scheme For Thirty Years

 

This year Mannington Hall is celebrating opening for 30 years for the National Gardens Scheme. It is open on the 10th May and 27th September for the NGS (12-5). In the early days a person in a sun chair with an umbrella greeted visitors and admission was only 40p. How Mannington has changed now! By the kind invitation of Lord and Lady Walpole, garden owners, sponsors and tourism representatives attended a presentation at Mannington Hall to commemorate the occasion, including a visit to the garden.

Raoul Curtis-Machin, (National Trust Regional Gardens Advisor), presented Lord and Lady Walpole of Mannington Hall with a ceramic pot and the Earl and Countess of Romney, Gayton Hall will receive a tree later for the National Gardens Scheme Long Service Awards, both for opening 30 years. The National Gardens Scheme (NGS) has supported the National Trust Careership in many of the Norfolk properties, a national joint initiative, designed to ensure a continuous supply of suitably qualified graduate gardeners, competent to work in historic and fine gardens. Head gardeners and students from Felbrigg Hall and Blickling Hall gave a presentation outlining what the NGS careership meant to them.

Raoul Curtis-Machin said, Today is an opportunity not only to thank the NGS for their support for the National Trust Careership. It is a chance to thank all the garden owners like Gayton and Mannington Hall, who continuously open for the scheme year after year. The NT Careership continues to go from strength to strength and now receives thousands of applicants every year. People of all ages, experience and backgrounds apply for this hugely successful training programme. Students are trained in all aspects of horticulture as well as being equipped with the necessary more specialist skills to work in historic gardens open to the public”.

County organiser Anthea Foster said “Norfolk NGS are pleased to have fourteen new gardens this year. However we are very proud of the continuous support given by the other gardens. Often the whole community will be involved. The profile of Norfolk’s great horticultural product is highlighted through The Yellow Book. Working together with local gardens and nurseries has helped achieved this. The support of Mannington Hall and Gayton Hall and others not only provides for the nursing and caring charities. It provides for the National Trust careeship which the Norfolk properties regularly have students. The students also have the opportunity to work with the Norfolk NGS private garden owners to gain hands on experience. This enables the heritage and the skills to be passed on to future generations.”

Mannington Hall gardens has 20 acres of countryside walks and trails, The gardens around this medieval moated manor house feature a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs in many different settings. Throughout the gardens are thousands of roses especially classic varieties. Wildflowers are encouraged around the landscaped lakes and in the Chapel Garden, where follies surround the ancient ruins of Mannington Church.