Bishopthorpe.net has been given a guided tour of the Bishopthorpe Palace Walled garden by Geoff Freeston and three students from Brunswick Organic Nursery.
Funded half and half by Social Services and the Church Commissioners, Brunswick is two years into a major project to convert the gardens back to productive use using organic methods. It has a ten year lease on the site, and ambitious plans for its future.
The site consists of two walled gardens, with the remains of a boiler house and potting sheds built up against the dividing wall. These grade II listed buildings are being converted into workshops, offices and toilet facilities for Brunswick staff and students. Wall repairs, and ground clearance of over 10 years worth of weeds, and accumulated rubbish, has been carried out.
In the first garden paths have been found and cleaned, and land cleared for planting and already there is garlic growing, with potatoes, beans, onions, and apple, plum and cherry trees planned.
The inner garden is much larger with a stream flowing down the centre, now partly dredged. Paths have been discovered on old maps researched by the Bishopthorpe History Group, and large quantities of weeds and roots dug out of the ground. A border has been prepared that will have new fruit trees to replace the ancient pears, and a ploughed area is to have pumpkins and squashes planted this year. In the corner, a wildlife area is being created, at which Nature (except rabbits) will be encouraged.
Help has come from local people as well as the Brunswick students themselves, and from squads from St John's College, and International Volunteers from Japan, China, belgium, France and Switzerland, all of whom have worked hard to get the gardens fit for use.
Although it is not planned to give public access, Open Days are planned for later this year.
If you know anything about the history of the gardens, people who worked there, what the produce was used for, or have documents or even pictures of them in past times, please contact Brunswick on 701869 or email them at geoff [at] brunswickyork.org.uk.
To see a selection of clickable pictures of the gardens, click on Continue reading below...
