Six pear trees have been presented to Lord and Lady Lansdowne by Peter Cooper, Master of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers in recognition of Bowood winning The Historic Houses Association/Christie’s ‘Garden of the Year 2014’.
The trees have been planted in the Walled Garden behind Bowood House, with a further two pear trees due to arrive this November.
Peter Cooper said: “The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers enjoys close links with The Historic Houses Association and Christie’s. Over the years it has become a well-established tradition to present the winner of the ‘Garden of the Year’ title with a celebratory collection of fruit trees to be planted in their award-winning garden and to promote the growing of fruit trees. We are delighted to have made such a presentation to Lord and Lady Lansdowne for a further eight pear trees to take root at Bowood.”
Lord Lansdowne said: “I’d like to extend our huge thanks to The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers for its most generous gift of these very special pear trees. They are marked by a plaque commemorating the presentation so that those visiting the Walled Garden for a guided tour – either as part of a private group or joining one of our scheduled monthly tours during the open season – can look out for this avenue of pear trees and see how they mature over the coming seasons and years.”
Entered through a ‘secret’ door, Bowood’s Walled Garden is made up of four distinct one acre squares comprising formal borders, a picking garden, glass houses and a working kitchen garden packed with fruit and vegetables.
Bowood House & Gardens opens daily, through to 2 November 2014, between 11am-5.30pm with the Gardens staying open until 6pm and last admissions at 5pm (closing one hour earlier after the autumn clocks go back). The House & Gardens will re-open again next spring just ahead of the Easter break.