Long Garden at Cliveden Transformed
The Garden Company is pleased to announce that their MD and Principal Designer, James Scott, has been working with the National Trust on a design project at The Long Garden, Cliveden in Buckinghamshire. Cliveden is a popular visitor attraction, attracting around 0.5m people annually and well-known for its beautiful gardens, grounds and country house. The estate spans 376 acres, with about 180 acres dedicated to gardens, which are designated as Grade I listed.
Design process
The Long Garden at Cliveden is being updated to reflect both its historic legacy and modern ecological considerations. Earlier this year, The National Trust invited James Scott and his design team to produce a new design. The transformed Long Garden will reflect the original design work of Norah Lindsay (an early 20th-century garden designer) whilst introducing the dynamics of a more contemporary planting style. It was also part of the design brief to address several environmental challenges.
The new design includes some key changes: replanting four central flower beds with a more modern scheme, replacing the central path – currently covered with artificial grass – with indigenous sawn York stone paving and replacing the old box hedging with more resilient Yew hedging.
The new planting scheme for the central flower beds has a main season of interest from spring to autumn, and consideration has also been given to the winter months. Given the seasonal interest required for year-round National Trust visitors, particular emphasis has been given to plants that have several attributes at different times of year – for example, winter seed heads as well as summer flowers.
James commented: ‘It’s been a true privilege to follow in the footsteps of Norah Lindsay, a pioneering figure in garden design. Lindsay was known for her bold and dynamic planting schemes, and we’ve strived to honour that ethos throughout our work. At the same time, we’ve considered how she might have been inspired by current planting trends, such as the use of grasses to bring a more naturalistic feel. Our aim has been to celebrate Lindsay’s original vision while introducing the energy and diversity of a modern herbaceous perennial scheme.’
The new sawn Yorkstone path will be wider, providing more space and accessibility for visitors. Hand-dressed edges will create a more crafted and aged look, aligning with the aesthetic of the Cliveden estate and the house’s Victorian heritage.
Paying homage to the work of Norah Lindsay
Norah Lindsay significantly influenced garden design and planting between the wars. She honed her skills in her own garden at Manor House, Sutton Courtenay, which is considered one of England’s most beautiful gardens. Lindsay drew inspiration from Italian gardens, but her own designs featured an informal style, characterized by a lush abundance of flowers framed by trimmed hedges. She often contrasted light and dark, using colourful flowers against darker backgrounds.
Next steps
The new garden design will be implemented over the winter months, with the newly transformed Long Garden set to welcome visitors in the coming year.
Image: Artist’s impression – Anna Dadswell, Garden design – James Scott/The Garden Company
We hope you have a fabulous New Year’s Eve! 🍾