Andrew Wilcox, a senior specialist at Harlow Carr, has seen many changes over his 30 years there, and was able to show us photos of the beginnings of the gardens from the 1950s. After developing a learning centre, trial gardens and shelter belts were established, and trees replanted replacing the lost oak woodland in which Henry VIII hunted. New paths were constructed replacing the old limestone chippings.
The soil is acid based and needed opening up with gypsum and years of home-made compost; the vegetable garden has had various homes but its current one is the most productive, being south facing. The streamside garden, established by Geoffrey Smith, is a riot of colour in Spring with candelabra primulas, and the nuisance skunk cabbage there has been contained. Crayfish now inhabit beds further downstream and the Queen Mother Lake, along with recently established bends in the beck, slows down the flow of water, lessening erosion. Bat boxes have increased the local bat population, which in turn has reduced the damage caused to the horse chestnut trees by the predatory Miner moth. Ten of Yorkshire’s eleven species of bat now live in and around Harlow Carr.
The gardens have been developed with an eye on conservation but also in order to improve the visitor experience. Natural play areas have been increased to widen the age range appeal. The resulting archaeology has yielded some surprises as the area was documented as Harrogate’s bottle tip. Along with clay pipes, the sole of a gardener’s boot and other treasures, these are housed and often displayed in the library at Harlow Carr – an area not so often frequented by visitors.
Andrew passed round some plants from the gardens and explained their advantages in the various situations. The keen gardeners among us were taking notes!
It was a most entertaining and informative afternoon and, after taking questions, Andrew was warmly thanked by Helen.