World Topiary Day Heads to the Weekend
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Levens Hall and Gardens is moving the date for its third World Topiary Day to a weekend slot, so 2023’s celebration can provide even more people globally – and more heritage gardens within Cumbria - with a date on which to spread the love of topiary.
In 2023, World Topiary Day will take place on a Sunday for the very first time, namely Sunday, May 14. For the first two World Topiary Days, the celebration of the art of clipping trees and bushes into various shapes and forms, took place on May 12.
Owner of Levens Hall and Gardens, Richard Bagot, explains, “Back in 2020, whilst pandemic uncertainty still ruled thinking, we founded World Topiary Day as a way to bring the topiary world together in lockdown. We chose May 12, as that date has special significance at Levens Hall and Gardens, being the date on which our historic Radish Feast took place, in the late 17th and 18th centuries – the earliest years of our world-record holding topiary.
“Our 2021 celebration was our first and we were able to welcome some visitors, to our gardens only, under pandemic restrictions. By the time early 2022 arrived, we discovered that world gardens were enamoured with World Topiary Day and wanted to join in. They did not, however, necessarily open mid-week, so wanted to stage activities over the following weekend, which we agreed to. Given the huge amount of enthusiasm out there and the fact that World Topiary Day is for everyone who loves topiary, we have now moved the celebration to the Sunday, so that everyone can celebrate on the same day.”
World Topiary Day 2023 will be a fabulous demonstration of why topiary is so popular with everyone from TV gardener, Monty Don, to celebrities such as Liz Hurley and Kelly Brook. Any garden that has topiary features, home gardener or garden centre which sells topiary, can join in, as can anyone else with a link to this gardening art form. With venues ranging from Disney theme parks to Indian parks boasting topiary, everyone has a chance to get involved.
Levens Hall and Gardens will coordinate the social media effort to bring all participants together under the hashtag #WorldTopiaryDay and will also run its own initiatives.
Led by the 11th head gardener, Chris Crowder, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, these ‘Talking Topiary’ tours will help visitors learn more about the amazing topiary pieces within the Topiary Garden, whether shaped to support a particular theme or eye-catching geometric pieces in golden yew.
Tips about topiary upkeep and how to get started with topiary will be provided and visitors will be free to also explore the rest of the gardens, which include the beautiful Fountain Garden, the Orchard, the Pastel and Red Borders, the Bowling Green, the Herb Garden, the Beech Circle and the Labyrinth. Don’t forget to also look out for England’s oldest ha-ha.
The European Boxwood and Topiary Society (EBTS) will also be on hand to give some table-top topiary demonstrations, imparting lots of knowledge about topiary and how best to get started, or keep specimens in tip-top condition.
Other activities will also be laid on for visitors, including children’s activities and a quiz. Meanwhile, the Levens Hall and Gardens shop will have plenty of topiary-themed items to purchase as souvenirs.
A range of award-winning food and drink can also be enjoyed in the contemporary café, Levens Kitchen.
Garden enthusiasts can head to www.levenshall.co.uk to keep up to date with all World Topiary Day news and follow its social channels @levenshall on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to keep up to date with news from around the world both ahead of and on the day.
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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.
