Shakespeare's allotment on display at Hampton Court
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is to recreate ‘Shakespeare’s Allotment’ at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The Flower Show, which takes place from 6 – 11 July, is the world’s largest annual flower show and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
This year’s theme is ‘Shakespeare’ and visitors will be able to see and admire six Shakespeare show gardens inspired by some of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies along with ‘Shakespeare’s Allotment’. The Allotment, which is being created by Barry Locke, Head Gardener of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and his team, can be viewed at site D34.
‘Shakespeare’s Allotment’ is based on Anne Hathaway’s vegetable patch and features a variety of fruit and vegetables, some of which date back to the 16th Century. The Allotment will boast a living willow cabin and a life-sized willow statue of Shakespeare tending his garden, courtesy of Birmingham University. To protect it from the birds there will be ancient deterrents including potatoes with feathers stuck in them and nets stuffed with hair!
Visitors will be able to enjoy walking around the garden which will feature over 30 different plants including Asparagus Lettuce, Asparagus Pea, Beetroot, Blackcurrant, Bronze Fennel, Buddleia Chard, Calendula, Carrot, Cornflower Pea, Evening Primrose, Godetia, Gooseberry, Hawthorn, Hyssop, Kale Jersey Walking Stick, Larkspur, Lavatera, Lavender, Mulberry Tree, Parsley, Parsley Pea, Parsnip, Pea Bean, Quince Tree, Raddish, Redcurrant, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner Bean, Strawberry Spinach, Sweet Peas, Thyme and Winter Savory. The delicious Strawberry Spinach was first cultivated over 400 years ago and is enjoyed both for its vegetable and fruit offering. All the ancient varieties of vegetables and willow cabin can also be seen at Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Barry Locke, Head Gardener at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust stated “Replicating a vegetable garden that Shakespeare may have had in Tudor times has been a fantastic project and one we’re immensely proud of. We hope visitors will enjoy wandering around the garden admiring the wide variety of ancient fruit and vegetables”.
The five beautiful Shakespeare Gardens in Stratford-upon-Avon are cared for by an award winning gardening team. Visitors can enjoy live performances in Shakespeare’s Birthplace country garden which features herbs, fruit trees and old-fashioned roses. Mary Arden’s Farm is a typical country garden with fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and a wild flower meadow.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage has a stunning cottage garden with beautiful blooms, an orchard, a growing willow cabin and an Elizabethan style yew maze. Hall’s Croft has an elegant walled garden which once belonged to Dr John Hall and features many of the herbs mentioned in his medical notebook. Nash’s House & New Place has an Elizabethan Knot Garden and Great Garden with box and yew hedges, lawns, flowerbeds and borders. This summer at New Place, visitors can experience an archaeological dig at Shakespeare’s last home which will take place in the gardens until 3 September 2010.
Tickets to all five Shakespeare Houses are great value and best of all, valid for a period of 12 months - with unlimited entry. So for the price of one ticket, visitors can enjoy days out at the Shakespeare Houses all year round – for free! For more information on the Shakespeare Houses, visit: shakespeare.org.uk