Walled Kitchen Gardens – Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust

Reclining chairs donated to “The Secret Garden”

Steve Horsfield — Sun, 16 May 2021 17:22:47 +0000

Elizabeth Bacon and Sue Blaxland have visited “The Secret Garden” at Glenfield Hospital to hand over officially the two reclining garden chairs that the Trust is donating to the project.

Originally the walled kitchen garden to Leicester Frith (the Victorian mansion on the hospital site) and used by Mental Health Services during the 20th Century, the garden had become derelict. Thanks to many generous donations and volunteer support, it is now almost restored and is open for use by hospital staff, patients and their visitors.

Secret Garden progress

Steve Horsfield — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 16:03:46 +0000

I recently had to go to Glenfield Hospital and took the opportunity to visit the Secret Garden, formerly the walled kitchen garden at Leicester Frith, which we researched a couple of years ago. I was keen to see the progress that had been made in the garden.

Thanks to donations of materials and labour, a seating area has been created and there will be a café. In front of the 18th century wall, individual bays with bench seats have been constructed.

Two unsightly tree stumps have been transformed into attractive carvings. It is wonderful to see these developments in this garden over such a short space of time. The garden is maintained by volunteers and it truly is a most life-enhancing project.

Thanks

Sue

Old Vicarage at Gumley

Steve Horsfield — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 15:21:51 +0000

When we started out with the Walled Garden Project we had a list of known walled gardens in the two counties. I do not think we expected to keep finding more, but we do. The walled kitchen garden at Gumley Old Vicarage is a case in point.

Early on in lock down Gill and Paul Knight were walking near Gumley and Gill spotted this obvious walled garden. She rang in great excitement to tell us about it, but totally frustrated because Rowan and I were behind the red line and could not leave Leicester.

At the end of June Rowan and I were allowed out and were able to meet Gill in Gumley church yard with our coffee. We admired the garden from the field. Normally I would have plucked up courage and knocked on the door, hoping to speak to someone, but in view of virus we felt it an unnecessary intrusion. We tracked down the owner who was happy for us to visit, but, again we were prevented visiting in gardens. We just have to wait. The owner tells me that it now house a swimming pool. When you think of it it’s a good use of the space.

Elizabeth Bacon