Call For Gardeners To Help Recreate Gardens At Kenilworth Castle

Tue, 14 Oct 2008

Leamington’s flower enthusiasts are being urged to help find the most beautiful and best species of carnations in an effort to help bring back the Kenilworth Castle Garden’s Elizabethan heritage.

English Heritage is appealing to gardeners in the town to help emulate the garden which Robert Dudley created at the castle in the 16th century as he attempted to lure Elizabeth I into marriage .

Most of the 60 carnation varieties that once existed were lost with the introduction of new production methods in the 19th and 20th centuries, leaving many of the present varieties lifeless in comparison to the visually impressive Elizabethan flowers .

Two of the original species from the times of Elizabeth I have already been identified by specialist nurseries - one on the castle wall at Sherbourne and wild seed at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens, collected from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains .

English Heritage is also working to recreate special carnation pots, based on a 16th century engraving. Once finished, these pots will display the plants and their flowers as Elizabeth I would have known them.

Organisers claim that once complete, the Kenilworth Castle Garden’s will present the world’s most complete picture of an Elizabethan courtly garden .

The gardens won’t officially open to the public until May 2009, although special previews are available every day until 31 October 2008 and guided tours every Friday for visitors who wish to watch the work in progress.

Gardeners that believe they have found a true species should contact English Heritage on 0870 333 1181 or email customers@english-heritage.org.uk.
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