Enjoy a Clipping Marvellous Celebration in Cumbria!

Head to the glorious English Lake District this May and you can have a ‘clipping marvellous’ time learning all about the art of topiary and the amazing creations that can result from it.

World Topiary Day celebrations are being staged at Levens Hall and Gardens, close to Kendal, in and around the world’s oldest topiary garden, on May 12, and then again, for weekend visitors, on Sunday May 15.

World Topiary Day gives the garden a chance to show off its heritage – dating all the way back to 1694 – and also some of the amazing, carefully clipped and trained trees that have been created by 10 head gardeners over the course of more than 300 years.  

Visitors can view ‘stars’ such as the Great Umbrella Trees, Queen Elizabeth and her maids and the  Toppling Wedding Cake, whilst also enjoying a plethora of geographical shapes and more unique specimens such as Homer Simpson and Darth Vader.  Some topiary specimens are more than 300 years old, whilst over half have celebrated their 150th birthday already!

The programme of activities planned for this celebration includes topiary talks and craft activities, historic displays of images of the topiary gardens over the centuries and topiary-themed food.  Expect head gardener, Chris Crowder, to be imparting his knowledge and don’t forget to check out Levens Hall and Gardens’ Twitter feed, as gardens across the world are doing their own thing to celebrate World Topiary Day this year, including the Palace of Versailles.

The whole of the Levens Hall gardens will be there to explore, as will the hall itself, the oldest Elizabethan property in Cumbria and home to amazing interiors, wood panelling and items linked to the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte.  The hall even has a bowl said to have been used by Sir Francis Drake, as he played the game on Plymouth Hoe, prior to his meeting with the Spanish Armada!

A visit to the World Topiary Day celebrations at Levens Hall and Gardens is sure to bowl you over, so check everything out at www.levenshall.co.uk  

Notes to Editors

Levens Hall and Gardens’ 2022 season will run from Sunday, April 3 to Thursday, October 6, during which time the Hall and Gardens will be open Sunday to Thursday each week.

The Hall opens at 10am for tours (subject to availability on the day) and at 11am for general admission and closes at 3.30pm, with last admission at 3pm.

The Gardens open at 10am and close at 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.

Both Levens Kitchen (the contemporary on-site restaurant) and the Levens Hall and Gardens shop, are open for much of the year, although visitors are asked to check the website and note closures around Christmas and the early new year.  Both can be accessed without paying general admission charges and both open seven days a week.

Admission for house and gardens costs £14.50 for an adult, £5 for a child and £36 for a family.  

Gardens-only admission costs £10.50 for an adult, £4 for a child and £26 for a family.

Tickets can be booked online at www.levenshall.co.uk

Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Levens Deer Park, with its timeless, riverside scenery and all-year-round accessibility.  This is located just across the road from Levens Hall and Gardens and has marked footpaths for visitor enjoyment.  The park is home to a herd of black fallow deer and rare-breed Bagot goats, which feature on the crest of arms of the owners of Levens Hall and Gardens, the Bagot family.  There is also an abundance of other wildlife to enjoy, along with the stunning scenery, and is a perfect place for a picnic, for those who follow the Countryside Code and take their litter home.

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Editors notes

Levens Hall & Gardens is a historic house in the South Lakes, Cumbria, close to Kendal and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, dating from 1694, created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont. The Hall is a stunning Elizabethan house built around a 13th century pele tower and has close links to the Duke of Wellington, as well as various items which once belonged to him and Napoleon Bonaparte. Levens Park is home to the rare Bagot goats gifted to the Bagot family and a place in which to stroll and enjoy nature. Levens Kitchen is the contemporary new cafe, full of delights for cake lovers and foodies alike.