Levens Hall and Gardens, near Kendal in the southern Lake District, is claiming topiary karma has been at play, having learned its inaugural celebration, World Topiary Day, is taking place on the very day the Discovery + channel spookily airs its new reality series based around topiary. Named ‘Clipped’, this stars judge and huge US TV personality, Martha Stewart.
Levens Hall, home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, established in 1694 by former head gardener to James II, Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont, chose to found World Topiary Day on May 12, to not just celebrate its place in history but to also continue its history of staging a jamboree on that particular date.
May 12 was the day on which Levens Hall, from the time of its late 17th century owner, Colonel James Grahme, staged its most quirky, yet hugely popular local event, the Radish Feast.
The Radish Feast gave Grahme a bit of one-upmanship in a rivalry between himself and the owner of another rather grand local home and incorporated Levens Hall’s secret recipe, Morocco Ale – so precious that its recipe was hidden in the Levens Hall gardens during the English Civil War, to prevent Cromwell’s men learning how the brew was made.
As part of the Radish Feast, guests were expected to down a constable of Morocco Ale – a rather large amount – whilst standing on one leg. They then proceeded to try to walk across the bowling green and back, in a straight line. Needless to say, enormous quantities of radishes were also consumed at the Radish Feast, known for its raucous and lively nature!
Having chosen May 12 for World Topiary Day, the Cumbrian historic home is staggered to find the ‘Clipped’ six-part TV series, is launching on the very same day. It is said this features seven real-life Edward Scissorhands, all clipping and trimming and nipping away, to create exquisite topiary pieces out of shrubs, from within a state-of-the-art tent. The Great British Bake Off, US style, perhaps!
Visitors to Levens Hall on World Topiary Day will be able to enjoy tours, starting at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, led by head gardener, Chris Crowder, who has worked at the gardens for over three decades. Chris will provide insight to over 100 pieces of topiary, including pieces such as Elizabeth I and her Maids of Honour, the Judge’s Wig and the Great Umbrella. He will also reveal what it takes to keep the Great Umbrella – one of the 50 Great British Trees according to the Tree Council in 2002 – in tip-top topiary condition and suggest how best to create and care for topiary at home. Insight into how pieces got their names will also be provided.
The day will also feature quizzes, limericks on the theme of topiary on social media, a children’s story competition about the day a piece of topiary came to life, topiary-themed gift ideas in the Potting Shed Gift Shop and topiary inspired food in the café, Levens Kitchen.
Levens Hall and Gardens’ head gardener, Chris Crowder, says, “We were already very excited to celebrate World Topiary Day and have a great start to our season, whilst marking the occasion with the planting of a new piece of topiary, which can be nurtured and enjoyed by future generations. Now, we are sure the Discovery+ programme will drive many more visitors to our door and fuel a love of topiary. It’s just so strange the programme airs on the very day we have founded World Topiary Day.”
More information is at www.levenshall.co.uk for those wishing to visit the Guinness World Record-holding gardens on World Topiary Day or at any other time during the 2021 season. Everyone is encouraged to share their own love of topiary with the hashtag #WorldTopiaryDay Naturally, Levens Hall and Gardens will be looking out for tweets from Martha Stewart!
