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World’s Oldest Topiary Gardens Found ‘World Topiary Day’

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South Lakes visitor attraction, Levens Hall and Gardens, which is home to the world’s oldest topiary gardens, is hoping to spread the love of topiary through its creation of the first World Topiary Day.

 

The Guinness World Record-holding Cumbria-based gardens, located close to Kendal, has chosen to dedicated May 12, 2021 to World Topiary Day, as this was the day on which its annual 19th century ‘Radish Feast’ was held.   The rather boisterous Radish Feast was staged in and around its magnificent topiary gardens, making it a fitting date to choose.

 

The topiary gardens were created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont, in 1694, using skills learned with Andre le Notre, designer of the Palace of Versailles’ gardens, for King Louis XIV.  The gardens at Levens Hall have remained timeless and stylish, providing a sanctuary in which to pause and reflect on shapes and symmetry, patterns and ‘personalities’ within the evergreens. 

 

Levens Hall boasts over 100 topiary pieces, ranging from geometrical shapes, to pieces such as Elizabeth I and her Maids of Honour, a Judge’s Wig, a Great Umbrella,  the ‘Howard Lion’ (significant for all ‘Wolf Hall’ fans) four peacocks and a Jug of Morocco Ale, commemorating Levens Hall’s own 17th century secret-recipe tipple, brewed by Daleside Brewery, which has just won a Silver Award at the London Beer Competition 2021.

 

The topiary gardens nestle alongside a peaceful fountain garden, a bowling green, willow labyrinth, Beech circle, pleached lime tunnels, the orchard and Britain’s first Ha Ha. Around 30,000 bedding plants are grown onsite each year, to add to the gardens’ special ambience and fragrance.

 

Levens Hall and Gardens’ owner, Richard Bagot, says: “Topiary has come in and out of fashion since Roman times, but previous owners of Levens Hall and Gardens’ owners have never been tempted to change their 17th century design.  It allows visitors to make sense of the world, find meaning in geometrical and whimsical patterns and shapes and create structure and order within their lives.  In 2021, this is more important than ever and we are delighted to found World Topiary Day, to help highlight the joys of this style of garden design.”

 

Inspired by Levens Hall’s stunning topiary, those adopting topiary in their own gardens can benefit from the focus underpinning this  art – careful, concentrated clipping, shaping of the evergreen foliage and plants, attention to detail and then the ongoing enjoyment of the shapes and forms created.  With topiary ‘sculpture’ there is always something special to behold.

 

Others can express their own personality, choosing a symbol or shape of their own choice to create or add, with perhaps personal and deep meaning.  Some homeowners can just enjoy being in fashion. Brands such as Cath Kidston, Radley and Disney have all used topiary in their marketing and celebrities, including green-fingered Kelly Brook and actress Liz Hurley, are both topiary fans.

 

Levens Hall and Gardens will be creating tips on how to incorporate topiary into your life for its first World Topiary Day and arranging other activities, as appropriate, according to the Covid-19 situation at the time.  

 

Head to www.levenshall.co.uk to discover more about the topiary gardens and also plan your trip to the world’s spiritual home of topiary, to re-shape your life and thoughts.                      

Ends

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.

Topiary at Levens Hall, Cumbria, UK

Topiary at Levens Hall, Cumbria, UK

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Topiary at Levens Hall, Cumbria, UK, in the world's oldest topiary garden.

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

Levens Hall & Gardens, Cumbria UK

Levens Hall & Gardens, Cumbria UK

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Levens Hall, an Elizabethan home built around a medieval pele tower, located in Cumbria, UK and welcoming many thousands of visitors each year.

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

The world's oldest topiary garden, at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK.

The world's oldest topiary garden, at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK.

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The world's oldest topiary garden, at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

View of the world's oldest topiary garden from inside Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK

View of the world's oldest topiary garden from inside Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK

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View of the world's oldest topiary garden from inside Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

The world's oldest topiary garden at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK.

The world's oldest topiary garden at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK.

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Picture taken in the world's oldest topiary garden at Levens Hall and Gardens, Cumbria, UK.

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

Levens Hall & Gardens, Cumbria UK

Levens Hall & Gardens, Cumbria UK

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Levens Hall and Gardens, close to Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, Cumbria. Shot shows the Elizabethan hall and some of the oldest topiary garden in the world.

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK.

Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK.

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Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK. Picture shows the world's oldest topiary gardens.

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk

Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK.

Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK.

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Levens Hall and Gardens, at Levens, near Kendal, in the Southern Lake District, UK. This Cumbria-based Elizabethan house and visitor attraction, with strong links to the Duke of Wellington, is also h...

Credit: www.levenshall.co.uk