I have walked "this green and pleasant land"
- lindaglamour
- Oct 18, 2016
- 3 min read
"And did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England's mountains green: And was the holy Lamb of God, On Englands pleasant pastures seen!" William Blake
I have been walking this green and pleasant land for the many weeks I have been here but there have been two places in particular where the words of William Blake have to me seemed most apt. My initial green land is the garden of Claremont in Surrey. I used to walk down from my apartment in Esher on Portsmouth rd to the National Trust gardens and spend many a happy hour there. Regardless of the weather and I have been there in all sorts, it has been a haven and a wonder. Green beyond imagining.
This visit, the day was very warm as the English summer had timed itself for my arrival - or so I told myself. Wearing shorts and a Tshirt, I walked around the lake and up the incline to the bowling green. Claremont was popular with the young Victoria before she was Queen. Oh, another Queen on whose footsteps I tread.
Claremont though is my garden. I sat on the deckchair so thoughtfully provided by the National Trust lakeside and enjoyed my rest. I could hear the ducks landing on the water when my eyes were closed. I could lie back and soak in the late afternoon sunshine. Walking around its perimeter, I stopped to enjoy the view of birds fluttering on the water as if the lake was their own bath. As I stood watching, my breath is taken away by the many shades of green.
No country does green like England. I cannot count the number of shades of green I have seen. From the most vibrant to the darkest, they glow. Even the roads one drives are draped in verdant green foliage, branches reaching out across the road to meet giving such a deep shade that the light barely penetrates.
Australia does not do green. I do not know how my eyes will reacclimatise to anything other than the verdant landscape which I have now grown accustomed to. Claremont will always be my own personal haven, my patch of green and pleasant land.
In Devon, I visited the Royal Horticultural Society's garden of Rosemoor. What a revelation! I walked for hours through its numerous gardens. From formal to woodland, from herb, vegetable and wild, I roamed and soaked up its many shades of green. There are not many places where one can walk through a wild woodland but at Rosemoor I could walk through an avenue of tall pines, through dense undergrowth and be surprised by being hailed upon by oak trees losing their acorns!
From the woodland I walked around the lake to the vegetable gardens.What an inspiration! I would love to think that I could bring back to my own garden in Highton some inspiration - gourds grew hanging from overhead along arched walkways, beds of pumpkins grow hanging along trellis, lettuces, onions and more grow abundantly in raised beds.
An orchard specialising in heritage strains is bearing fruit - a light touch brings into my hand a Charles Ross apple. The most delicious and juiciest apple I have ever tasted.
The orchard led to Mr McGregor's garden where I met Peter Rabbit. Such delight. It brought me memories of sitting with Lauren on my knee reading her Beatrix Potter's stories. I of course took the opportunity for a selfie!
The formal gardens are impressive though perhaps not at their peak at my visit. The roses were nearly all gone though the foliage garden was still showing a good display.
I have walked and explored other beautiful, incredible gardens - Thornbury Castle, Overbeck, Hever Castle and Hexham Abbey. I have marvelled at their expanse of green. Each has offered me something new and something special to my understanding and appreciation of the English Garden.
Yesterday I sat out in my little garden here in Buckfastleigh. It is overgrown. There is a large wisteria which is growing against the back wall held up by string. The pink rose still bears a few flowers but is in need of radical pruning. A lavender grows unchecked against the mill wall and obscures their windows. A stone bench is grown over with moss and lichen. And I love it.
I sat with a glass of champagne and redesigned it in my mind. What I would do if it was mine....in my mind, it became a garden resplendent with lavender and roses, with fragrant violets and jasmine. In the sunny patch in the corner would be a small vegetable plot with seasonal plants supplying my baking efforts. A girl can dream.
"I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand: Till we have built Jerusalem, In Englands green & pleasant Land"
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