THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD

More than half a century of work has gone into this global garden in Mawdesley

- Linda Viney

WHO?

Peter Cordall spent three years in the Antarctic before returning as a science teacher, specialising in biology. He and Edith met when she worked as a technician in the College of Education in Chorley. Edith’s father gave them a plot of land as a wedding present 56 years ago, and the first brick for the house was laid on their wedding day. Since then they have created this beautiful global garden on the derelict orchard.

Peter’s love of walking led to trekking and plant hunting around the world. One of his most interesting trips was with the Alpine Garden Society to Siberia, as part of the first British Botanical Party to have visited that country for 100 years. One of his last trips was to Afghanistan. Although he is now 90-years-old, his passion for growing plants from seed hasn’t waned and he still gives talks locally including on plant photography.

Now 80, Edith developed her love of plants as a child on the farm where she was raised and on walks with her mother.

WHAT AND WHERE?

The one-acre garden has been created from scratch from the derelict orchard in the Mawdesley countryside. It has different areas, with a traditional garden to one side of the house and a secret garden sheltered with trees, shrubs and plants laced with winding paths. There is a seated area full of artefacts and two rockeries, one more traditional and the other a crevice rockery.

WHAT’S GROWING?

One of the first tasks was to plant pine trees to shelter them from the prevailing winds which come straight over from Southport.