Tatton Park diary

It’s raining. In fact it’s pouring. Planting begins today and we are joined by the ladies from the Welsh College Summer Gardening group:  Jackie, Myfanwy, Judith and Judith.

They set to work on turning the bedding plants into the Glyndwr stripes.

It’s not easy. The stripes are different lengths and widths, some stripes taper, some widen.

We decide to start at both ends with two people planting at either end. I have the planting plan and convert the measurements in the plan to measurements for stripes on the ground with the aid of some knitting needles and string. Design students Tania and Mark are constructing the water feature.

It continues to pour with rain. The Summer Gardening group leave at 3.00pm so I take over the planting. The ground is becoming muddy and slippery. Each time I step on to the flower bed I have visions of slipping and knocking over one of the mountains – they’d go down like dominoes. I become very, very careful.

Peter and Gareth finally arrive back from Oswestry with the oak seats which are extremely heavy. They discuss how to get them out of the van and decide to try to slide them down a piece of mdf while supporting each seat with ropes. They then slide each seat on to the garden over a piece of mdf that Peter wets to make it slippery (isn’t it already wet? Everything else is).

Gareth and Peter push the seats while Tania pulls using a piece of rope. We’ve been instructed by Peter not to stand on the white gravel in our boots, so Tania valiantly balances on the mdf. Peter walks on the gravel – in his boots.

Saturday is much better weather-wise. Tania takes the covers off the mountains and we can see the sky reflected in the mirrors on the top of the mountains. It’s a lovely effect watching the clouds scudding across the mountain tops and if you stand in just the right place you will be bathed in light when the sun hits the top of the mountains.

So if you decide to come and see us at Tatton bring an umbrella, it may rain, and definitely bring sunglasses - the design is dazzling!