May to Bring Gardeners a Clipping Marvellous Celebration!

Gardeners should pop May 12 in their diaries and reach for the garden shears, if they wish to share their topiary delights with their global counterparts on World Topiary Day 2022.

Founder, Levens Hall and Gardens, based near Kendal in Cumbria and home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, will be sharing Tweets from topiary-mad gardeners worldwide, not to mention formal gardens in the UK, France, Spain, Madeira and the USA, who have signed up to participate in the global celebration.

Participants include the Palace of Versailles in France and Longwood in the USA, both renowned for their stunningly clipped trees, whilst the event has somewhat enamoured French gardens in general, more than 40 of whom are taking part.

Levens Hall and Gardens is the spiritual home of topiary, having specimens dating back more than 300 years, all the way to 1694, and over half of its topiary trees celebrating 150 years or more in their Cumbrian haven.

These are in a variety of geometrical shapes or present themselves as ‘character’ trees with enormous personalities.  These include the Great Umbrella trees, Queen Elizabeth and her maids and the Toppling Wedding Cake, not to mention peacocks, Homer Simpson and even Darth Vader!  

On the day, as well as on Sunday May 15, Levens Hall and Gardens is promising special topiary themed activities, talks, quizzes and challenges, and foodie treats for visitors and has even created a special chutney to celebrate.

But World Topiary Day is for all enthusiasts of the art of clipping and trimming trees and also allows home gardeners to show off their much-loved creations, so get involved!  Find out more at www.levenshall.co.uk, follow Levens Hall on Twitter @LevensHall and start planning what you will share with fellow topiary enthusiasts!

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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.