Anyway back in April when I was feeling too lazy to cook the Sunday roast we decided to go out for lunch. We went to the Millstone at Barnack as we hadn't been there for such a long time. The meal was adequate but not as good as it was then Aubrey owned the place. Post lunch 'Himself' suggested a trip to Barnsdale Gardens. Another place we haven't been too for a long time.
The gardens were the inspiration of the Television Gardener Geoff Hamilton. A hugely popular BBC Gardener. After graduating from Agricultural Collage he became a Nurseryman and a Self Employed landscape Gardener. He started writing for Garden News magazine, then presented Gardening Diary for Anglia Television. He join the popular BBC's 'Gardeners World' team in 1976 as an occasional presenter. By 1979 he had joined the team full time . Around 1983 Geoff and his family moved into a large Victorian farmhouse with 5 acres of land and Barnsdale Gardens were conceived. Geoff was now fronting the program from his own garden.
Over the years Geoff presented the show from this stony clay plot. Transforming the poor farm land into a series of small delightful Gardens. His popularity as a presenter never wained. He fronted the Garden Shows from Chelsea and Hampton Court and presented spin off series like 'The Paradise Garden'.
In 1996 whilst on a charity bike ride he suffered a massive Heart attack and died. The nation was stunned.
We last visited the Gardens a short time after Geoff had died and his son Nick and the family had taken over the running of the gardens.
Today the site has matured and is spread over 8 acres. All Geoff television gardens have matured and developed. The whole site is now a connected sereis of garden rooms with new gardens having been designed to connect the Television gardens into a cohesive pleasant walk around.
A new Tearoom has been added were light snacks and refreshments are served The old plant nursery has been enlarged and the small shop redesigned with space for the courses they run from the gardens. The car park had also been added to allow parking for the continued stream of Geoff fans that continue to visit the gardens.
This bronze bust of Geoff was sculpted by one of his sons and sits on a great reclaimed garden plinth.I'm sure we won't leave it so long before we visit these delightful gardens again.
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