| Bless'd too is he, who, 'midst his tufted trees, Some ruin'd castle's lofty towers sees; Imbosom'd high upon the mountain's brow, Or nodding o'er the stream that glides below. Richard Payne Knight (1794) |
The Walled Garden at Scampston
Owned by the same family since the 17th century, Scampston Hall was given fine Regency interiors in the early 19th century by the architect, Thomas Leverton. The Hall contains important pictures by Gainsborough, Marlow, Scott and Wilson.
The park, designed under 'Capability' Brown, includes woodland walks by 10 acres of lakes and a Palladian bridge. A rock and water garden were added in the 19th century.
The Walled Garden at Scampston is an area designed by the contemporary Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. Opened to the public in 2004, his large, strongly visual, geometrical, compartmental layout is a characteristic marriage of firm modern lines with much older design ideas. Around the perimeter, behind a tall beech hedge topped by pleached limes, is a succession of wonderful and unusual plants in groups of three, many brought from South America by the head gardener on annual visits.
Inside one is greeted first by dramatic ranks of Molinia grasses like platoons on parade, on a green swarth parade ground. Compartments, beyond and divided by beech hedges, are planted each with their own purpose or seasonal interest. At the centre, Piet's trademark late summer 'perennial prairie' surrounds the stone edged oval dipping pond which still receives its water from the greenhouse roof. A rectangular 'mound' is covered with spring bulbs and surrounded by flowering cherry trees.