News Article

 

Afternoon Tea In The Old NGS Garden Days At Mannnington Hall

Thirty years ago Mannington Hall opened for the first time for the National Gardens Scheme. In those early days it was a person in a sun chair with an umbrella that greeted visitors and admission was only 40p. How times have changed since then.

Afternoon teas were served in the old school room with the small sinks used for washing up, before the tea room was formed. Now the Greedy Goose tea room provides a varied menu sourced from the local produce. The traditional British love of afternoon tea was very much part of the visit in those days. People looked around the garden and then sat and enjoyed the view. It is a trend along with garden visiting that has become very popular again.

Mannington hall opens on September 27th (12-5), twenty acres featuring shrubs, trees, roses and a sensory garden and boardwalk. It has extensive countryside walks and trails featuring wild flowers and birds, situated around a moated manor house and Saxon church with 19th century follies.

Laurel Walpole said ”Back then gardens were of formal designs, vegetable gardens and wildflower gardens were not expected to be seen. Wild grasses and flowers in the Chapel garden which would be popular today caused comments in those days. People would not have paid to purchase a wild plant or what was known as a weed then. Creating gardens to encourage wildlife and grow your own food source has developed tremendously over the years but was unusual to many people thirty years ago. Opening the garden is a pleasure when visitors admire the hard work taken place over the years when they revisit”.

County Organiser Anthea Foster said “Eight gardens including Mannington Hall open that have regularly supported the worthwhile charities of the National Gardens Scheme. These include: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Crossroads and NGS gardeners’ careership (the National Trust). Founded in 1927, the NGS has raised more than £25 million for charity in the last 10 years, including £400,000 in Norfolk. Alan Gray, Ambassador of the National Garden Scheme at East Ruston Old Vicarage traditionally closes the NGS season with the last “Open Garden” on October 3rd”.

“New gardens always attract a lot of interest with the snoop factor. However the gardens that open regularly often more than once a year enable the enthusiast to visit during the different seasons. Many develop new features each year and add additional planting. Visiting gardens that open for the NGS is a great way to gain inspiration for your own garden and the cost of entry is relatively low. As the summer months draw to a close discover or revisit a NGS garden near you”