News Article

 

NGS Afternoon Holly Tea by the Norfolk Broads

Visitors to a Norfolk National Gardens Scheme open garden are enticed to sample “Afternoon Holly Tea” at How Hill Farm Garden.  Owned and tended by Peter Boardman, he has created three separate gardens here dating back as far as 1968.  Peter opens his garden for the NGS on the 23rd May 2010 (1pm – 5pm), admission £3.50 with children free.  

Peter was invited to taste Holly Tea with James Wong on the BBC 2 series” Grow your own Drugs.” Christmas Special”.  James, 28 is an ethnabotanist, which means he knows what use plants can be.  His programme features many natural remedies. Here in Norfolk Peter Boardman is obviously of the same thinking as James Wong. Peter has a “Collection of Holly” with the ”Wolf-Fenton Award” from the Holly Society of America. (The Award is given to an individual or individuals for outstanding service and dedication to the Holly Society of America. It is their most prestigious award).

How Hill Farm garden consists of nearly twelve acres with two pretty gardens around the house. The third started in 1968 leading to a three acre Broad dug in 1978 with views over River Ant and Turf Fen Mill. The garden has a Broad, four ponds, the site of an old Broad with 5ft Tussock sedges, with about an acre of indigenous ferns under oak and alder. It features paths through rare conifers, rhododendrons, azaleas, ornamental trees, shrubs, bamboos and herbaceous plants and good vistas. Bordering on the Broads, the boats can be seen as they quietly sail and motor past. This is a really tranquil spot with windmills and magnificent gardens. There will be English tea and homemade cakes available in the thatched barn as usual, but also the opportunity to try South American Holly Tea.

Garden owner Peter Boardman said "it was a surprise to be asked to appear on the “Grow your Drugs” programme. I have always received a bit of interest in Holly over Christmas but this was quite different. It was not until after it was broadcast I realised how popular the programme was and how much interest Holly tea had created. Now visitors can try it for themselves. Holly tea is made from a species called “Ilex Paraguariensis” which is grown in South America, here in England the weather is too cold for it to survive. It is drunk by many millions of people there but we here drink tea derived from Camellias. Paraguariensis is recognised by chemists as a stimulant for the nerves and muscles as well as the brain.”

NGS County Organiser Fiona Black said “With the increased interest of edible plants, natural remedies and growing your own produce, gardening has a whole new concept. Not only is How Hill Farm a great garden to visit but it also has the magnificent view of the man made Norfolk Broads. Afternoon tea with a brew of Holly tea and home made cakes on the Norfolk Broads would just make a NGS garden visit complete”.