BY ALLISON LEE
A walled garden has existed at Duncombe Park in Helmsley since 1758. It was built to supply fruit and vegetables for the Feversham family; however, after World War One, the garden’s role as a source of food for the family ended.
After the last leaseholder left the property, it fell into dereliction until a local practice nurse, Alison Ticehurst, recognised its potential in 1994. She envisioned a beautiful garden to visit, while also providing a place where people could benefit from therapeutic horticulture. Alison was well ahead of her time when the garden was first built 30 years ago, and today many community gardens benefit individuals across the country. Sadly, Alison died before she could see her vision become reality; however, the staff and volunteers today are carrying on her work and taking her vision forward.
When Alison began her work on the garden, she revealed many of the original paths by clearing years of weeds and neglect. These paths were laid alongside the central dipping pond in the 18th century. The garden is roughly parallelogram-shaped. This was to ensure that the walls received as much sun as possible, keeping shadows to a minimum, which is essential when growing fruit and vegetables.
The paths are the garden’s one original feature today, and they provide interesting and pleasing divisions throughout, creating intimate and unexpected ‘garden rooms’. Today, the walls are lined with stone fruit, apples and pears, which are cordoned and espaliered. The cut flower garden is an area where a variety of annuals are grown each year in rows to be cut for displays in the Orchid House.
The garden’s ethos remains the same: a place where people can tap into the healing power of horticulture, find a quiet place to relax and enjoy the stunning surroundings, or volunteer to help with the garden’s upkeep. The garden aims to engage its local community in gardening as a pastime that benefits health and wellbeing. There is a strong emphasis on physical and emotional health for everyone who uses or works in the garden, with therapeutic horticulture central to how the garden operates. Gardening is good for us; the different aspects of this pastime benefit us in so many ways, including physically, emotionally and cognitively. Being part of the community that works in Helmsley Walled Garden gives individuals a sense of productivity and belonging.
The very essence of the walled garden is a safe, welcoming, enclosed space that retains a sense of openness within Duncombe Park’s landscape. Helmsley Walled Garden has a relaxed, gentle atmosphere. Gardeners allow annual seeds to fall and pop up again here and there, creating a natural landscape. Whilst the lawns are neatly trimmed, the meadow grass is left to grow long and is interspersed with bright bulbs and flowers, providing colour and interest throughout the seasons. The ‘Hot Border’ provides a colourful display of vibrant yellows and oranges, whilst the ‘White Garden’ offers a contrasting, restful place to relax and unwind. Helmsley Castle watches over the walled garden, creating a sense of stability and adding an element of history for visitors. Together, these elements create a healing, restorative pace for both the gardens’ volunteers and visitors alike.
Productivity is still important at Helmsley Walled Garden; however, the focus is now more on the garden as a place for relaxation and exploration. It showcases different horticultural techniques for visitors to enjoy whilst encouraging people to slow down, take their time, rest, and enjoy a picnic on the grass.
Various events take place in the Walled Gardens throughout the summer, including picnic evenings, workshops, and courses.
The Vinehouse Café is located within Helmsley Walled Garden. This family-run café is completely independent. Mollie Chapman and her brother Sam bought the café in 2015, and they are proud to serve fresh food made with quality ingredients, sourced where possible from the Walled Garden.
In 2019, The Vinehouse won Visit England’s Visitor Experience Award in Yorkshire in the food and drink category.
For more information, please visit:
https://helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk/
https://www.vinehousecafehelmsley.co.uk/
Allison Lee is a smallholder from North Yorkshire who has written for the Yorkshire Times and other publications. Her website can be accessed here.