Nymans revisited – All Gardens

I recently made a visit to Nymans after many years absence. I lived in the ruins there for a decade and really got to know the garden well. In fact it was one of the primary motivations for starting All Gardens. Living there and watching trees and shrubs grow to constantly adjust the feel of every part of the garden, I became fascinated by the idea of conservation with respect to gardens which is what the National Trust had committed to when taking ownership back in 1953.

As head gardeners changed along with fashions the garden adapted too. Possibly plants were not just replaced as the conditions were no longer suitable or the plants were simply not available anymore.

Aesthetics had to be considered too. Canopies changed and the shade and shape of the various skylines adjusted. Focal points shifted making the connections between the different compartments of the garden align in different ways.

Copper Beech severely pollarded on account of disease allowing Magnolia ‘Anne Rosse’ to shine

So returning and seeing change was always going to be tricky. Living there it was gradual and crept up on you but an absence of many years would be brutal. I braced for it. The overwhelming sensation was of sheer joy to be reunited with an old and still familiar friend. A lot has changed and I would say for the most part for the better. Lots of shrubs and trees have matured ( many were replaced after the great storm (?) of 1987 )

Many shrubs and trees in Wall garden have matured to fill out the space

Box topiary and Handkerchief glade created by Alistair Buchanan has grown up

and filled out many parts of the garden. Some areas that were always a bit lacking have been put to better use (new dry garden by the croquet lawn) and some bad ideas ( the trio of holly cylinders ) have been removed.

Improved area to replace cylindrical holly topiary which had become blighted – very much inspired by the style of Robinson

Whilst I love the decorative improvement of the loggia area which previously ate light and was always quite oppressive, I really do think that too much has been opened up so that the lovely surprises from the compartmental structure is now gone and taken much delight with it – this feeling is augmented by the removal of some of the larger bushes around the tennis lawn. Perhaps this will be restored when the various topiary bushes mature.

Opening up of the compartments at Nymans, creating a less intimate experience

I also worry that this area is now too whimsical – this is partly brought to mind by additional ‘styling’ in the paddock around the tiny cattle pond. The whole idea of this pasture is I believe a nod to arcadian ‘natural’ landscaping a la Capability Brown so the effect is rather disrupted for me by this tinkering.

A naturalistic view of the pasture from the garden

Enough moaning, it really is a success and seems to be in a very capable set of hands. I attach below some further photos I took. It was quite overcast but the wonderful garden shines through. I didn’t get any photos of the top of the garden sadly and of note up there is the improved bed/ entrance to the Pinetum. My favourite change however is how the wall garden is now packed out with shrubs so the borders stand as a frame for this exotic jungle.

The remaining images are broken down by some garden areas. I ran out of time to take any photos between the rose garden, pinetum and the entrance.

Wall garden with many mature shrubs and trees.