Stackpole Walled gardens

[Mikey]

I was away camping over the weekend in West Wales, and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around this beautiful vegetable garden. Its by far the largest walled garden I've ever come across at just under 6 acres, its owned by the National Trust and leased to Pembrokeshire Mencap who provide work experience and horticulture courses for adults and young people with learning difficulties. They grow veg, plants, and run a small shop, on a fabulous site.

I was chatting to one of the volunteers there yesterday, who told me how much the poor weather we'd had this year had cost them in lost vegetable sales a valuable source of income to them. We purchased a few plants which were incredibly cheap, and some lovely pembrokeshite ice cream, and made a donation.

I just thought I'd draw all you lovely peeps to a project that is very worthwhile supporting if you are ever in the area and well worth a trip if you are not.

Stackpole walled gardens

[veggiechicken]

Didn't the Forum donate some of our surplus seeds to Stackpole Gardens via Marchogaeth?

[Mikey]

Cool, I didn't know that. I always like to seek out walled gardens when on holiday. They hold a great fascination to me, I love seeing one being used and in use.

[veggiechicken]

A Walled garden is something else on my Wants list!! I know someone who has one and I really really want it!!
Re Stackpole http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post978798

[Mikey]

Me to VC, not a huge one, 1/2 to an acre would do me nicely, some greenhouses, a vinery, hotbeds, maybe a pineapple house!! I don't want much.....

[veggiechicken]

......and a Gardener's Bothy and potting shed full of terracotta pots with a stove in the corner, wall trained fruit trees.........

[Mikey]

Now you're getting into the spirit, I'll need plenty of terracotta forcing pots, and glass bell jars. I quite fancy some stepover apple trees lining the paths, and large zinc lined potting bench.

[veggiechicken]

Would that spirit be Sloe gin Mikey?
An underground heating system for the hot beds.....
I rather fancy the Walled garden at Dunraven with the Ice house!

[Mikey]

Would that spirit be Sloe gin Mikey?
An underground heating system for the hot beds.....
I rather fancy the Walled garden at Dunraven with the Ice house!

NO at this time of year its Elderflower champagne!!

Now I'm going to embarass myself, I've never been to the walled gardens at Dunraven, they're the ones by Southerndown aren't they? I've been meaning to but not managed it yet!!!

I'll happily spare you a few hot pipes from my pineapple house for your hot beds.

[veggiechicken]

Elderflower champagne would do very nicely today - thanks for offering
Southerndown/ Dunraven - same place. Park in the car park and walk eastwards along the coastal path - go through the wooden door in the garden wall and you're there!
We used to go there on New Year's Day with a flask of mulled wine
Go Mikey, you'll love it!! Lots of potential for we garden developers

[Mikey]

Its bizarre, I've been to the beach there and in Ogmore by Sea, so many times I can't think why I've never been before?

I wouldn't say no to a glass of mulled wine either, its a bit chilly today.

[veggiechicken]

How about a South Wales meetup and picnic in the Walled Garden? Bring the family! Chris too and all the others who may like to come along. A walk along the coastal path....Waddya think?

[lottie dolly]

did someones finger slip on the key pad

yes indeed a worthy cause,

grrr,it went wrong,i was refering to the pembrokeshite ice cream in mikey's first thread lol,

[veggiechicken]

Well spotted LottieD! I hadn't noticed Mikey's up-slip - unusual for me to miss something so commentable as that

[Mikey]

Oh dear.....I had vanilla and honeycomb myself