The Friends of The Forgotten Garden of Lewtrenchard

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One unexpected outcome of recent research by local historians into the life of Sabine Baring-Gould has been the discovery that just to the north of Lewtrenchard Manor Hotel, (which, as Lew House, was the ancestral home of Sabine) in a much neglected and densely overgrown valley in Barton wood, known locally as ‘The Glen,’ there had once been a charming and quite extraordinary Edwardian woodland garden. This is evident from the remains of ponds, walls, an imposing waterfall, walkways, slate steps, viewing areas and a grotto. Also, in what appears to be have been an adjacent domestic yard associated with Lew House, is a pigsty built by Sabine’s father, Edward, and a stone tower that may at one time have been an icehouse. Perhaps the most exciting structure known to have been in the Glen is a Holy Well the location of which has proved elusive.

Professional gardener, Robert Stemson, and amateur local historian, Ron Wawman, first met in July 2006 at the Open Garden Day of Lewtrenchard Manor Hotel. Rob and Ron soon discovered that they both had the same romantic dream – the restoration of the forgotten garden. There and then they determined to make this dream come true. And so it is that they brought together a group of enthusiastic volunteers who, in 2007, set themselves up as a charitable association, known as The Friends of the Forgotten Garden of Lew Trenchard.

Why did 'The Friends' choose the Scarlet Oak as a logo?

There are several fine specimens of quercus coccinea, the Scarlet Oak, in the Forgotten Garden. It is known from an entry in the Family Bible for 1891 that Sabine planted a number of scarlet oaks about the estate gardens in that year.
During a preliminary survey of the Glen in 2007 an exciting find by Tony Butland was of a cast iron plant label with the inscription quercus Coccinea. This helped to confirm that that the area had at one time been lovingly cultivated. The Friends then decided to adopt the distinctive leaf of the Scarlet Oak as their logo.

The Friends, with the generous assistance of the Baring-Gould Corporation, have leased the garden area, comprising about 1½ acres, together with the surrounding ancient bluebell woods, amounting to approximately a further 5 acres. The Friends aim to restore the garden as a community facility, restore the man-made structures, conserve the woodlands together with their wildlife and rescue the lost Holy Well.
Through a combination of perseverance, an 1884 map, a 1913 family bible entry, a 1914 photograph, a sentence in Sabine’s Early Reminiscences, and some logical deduction, the Friends at last discovered and, in the autumn of 2007, excavated the site of the well.

The Friends are aware this is a challenging long-term project and that they will need all the help they can get, whether this be through:

Financial support either by donations, sponsorship or by joining as a member.
Support in kind—Eg materials, knowledge, practical skills or use of machinery, e. g. chainsaws..
Documentary research.
Assisting with surveys of the archaeology, watercourses, wildlife, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees.
Assisting the skilled restoration of man-made structures.
Most importantly, by getting their hands dirty by clearing the debris of a hundred years and restoring the garden.

Newsletter:

The second issue of the biannual Newsletter appears as a separate page of this website.

Preparing the Glade for Planting:
This summer and autumn much time and effort has gone into clearing the weed trees and scrub from the glade, removing the many large stones and preparing the soil for planting of a wild flower meadow in the spring. This autumn has also been taken up with the planting of daffodil bulbs around the periphery of the glade.


Clearing the glade of a vast amount of stone in preparation for planting as a wild flower meadow - Back breaking work!.	The glade after weed trees had been cut down and before preparation for planting.	Planting Daffodil bulbs.

Interested?

For further information visit the “All About the Friends” page.
For an Application form click here.
For a Standing Order form click here.