The Plantation Garden

Yesterday afternoon was cold and damp and not the sunny afternoon I had imagined several months ago when I arranged a tour of The Plantation Garden and the Cathedral Garden at St. John’s RC Cathedral  for members of the Grapes Hill Community Garden Group.

But we had a great time. The Plantation Garden was lush and green after all the rain. Its formal beds were at their spring best, including a round one with pink tulips contrasting with blue forget-me-nots. On the banks there were the soft greens of ferns and wild garlic and the darker foliage of ivy and various shrubs. The white flowers of comfrey shone in the gloom and there were delightful details like a grassy bank of wild strawberries with Muscari (grape hyacinths).

The Plantation Garden – the fountain

The Plantation Garden was designed and built over a period of forty years by Henry Trevor, a prosperous Victorian upholsterer and cabinet maker, who lived in a large house adjoining the land, which was formerly a chalk quarry. He built terraces, a palm house, a rustic bridge and a fountain.

By the late twentieth century the garden was very overgrown but since 1980 The Plantation Garden Preservation Trust has restored the garden to its present state. It is now one of Norwich’s special attractions, especially on a sunny Sunday afternoon in summer, when visitors can enjoy tea and cake in the garden.

We continued on to St. John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral and were given a tour of the Cathedral Garden, which is maintained by Head Gardener Zanna Foley-Davies and a team of volunteers.

The garden at The Narthex

Zanna showed us around and we looked at photographs from three years ago, when the garden was overgrown and full of rubbish. Zanna has carefully transformed the garden into an asset for the community, with flowers, shrubs, fruit and space for people to meet. The apple trees and memorial rose garden have been rescued with careful pruning and maintenance and Zanna now plans to create a community vegetable garden in part of the area.

Finally we finished our afternoon with tea and cakes in The Narthex. Thanks to our guides at both gardens and the catering staff at The Narthex for such a warm welcome and an enjoyable afternoon.