COASTAL gardens in Britain are as varied as the coastline itself. Those of south-west Scotland, Devon and Cornwall are bathed in the warmth of the Gulf Stream, which keeps temperatures high enough to grow exotic plants. With that warm air comes high rainfall, something that gardeners in the dry coastal gardens of Norfolk and Suffolk can only dream about.
In the North-East and in Lancashire, coastal gardens are exposed to bitterly cold winds. Even the coldest place, however, is likely to be warmer than those inland and all seaside gardens will have higher light levels, thanks to light reflected off the sea.
Growing conditions can vary enormously within one region. Inland gardens in a particular locality usually have minor environmental differences, but, on the coast,the differences can be extreme, depending on topography, the way the wind turns or where the sun falls. Taking time to become familiar with the microclimate of any garden is important, but in a coastal one, it’s essential and could mean the difference between a beautiful garden or a windswept, barren piece of land.
Although there is no generic British coastal garden, all have one certainty: wind. The more open to sea views, the more damaging the wind will be to the garden. It will bring salt to scorch leaves and sand to blast them. Plants will lose moisture through increased transpiration and establishing new plants will be difficult. A windbreak of some kind is essential.
Denne historien er fra July 08, 2020-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra July 08, 2020-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
