Meconopsis x sheldonii'Branklyn'
 Camellia Walk

This is a continuation of the Middle Walk, running approximately west to east from the corner bed by the big Monterey Pine.

The Woodland Garden was originally planned and planted by the great grandmother of the present Baron, around 1890-1910

 Here some good conifers, Abies, Tsugas and Chamaecyparis were planted about 100 years ago, but since then nothing much had been done. Rhododendron ponticum, Holly, Yew and willow invaded the woodland floor, and the whole thing was overshadowed by self sown Sycamores. The Rhododendrons were clipped for many years which made the walk into a dark uninviting tunnel.

Sadly most of the conifers were spoiled by their more aggressive neighbours so we have now removed them, together with two large Sycamores and a large Oak. The woodland floor has been cleared to produce a sheltered but sunny glade of about 0.5 acres (0.2 Ha), and we're now working on preparing the area for planting. The top soil in most of the garden is a shallow heavy loam over boulder clay but this part of the garden is near to the edge of an old gravel pit (also part of the garden) and is quite gritty and reasonably well drained. Much of the area is covered with around 100 years' accumulation of leaf mould. I haven't measured the pH here but from experience elsewhere in the garden I expect it to be around 6/6.5. That is very satisfactory for the planting I have planned.

'Camellia Walk' before clearing work started.

Showing the enclosed feeling and dark nature of the place, even though the picture was taken on a fine day in August 2000.
Camellia Walk plant list





Why no Camellia pictures?

The only photographs I have are 'borrowed' from other web sites. When I have my own I will put them in, probably linked to the plant list.		 The walk is edged with long logs laid end to end as you'll see in other parts of the garden. This is a good way of using the best of the small trees we remove during clearing, usually they are Sycamore, sometimes Ash, Oak or Chestnut so I generally only expect them to last long enough to become colonised with mosses and ferns that will in their turn define the path edges. The main emphasis of the planting will be the Camellias, we already have a collection of some 50 varieties of C.japonica, C. Williamsii, Hybrids and a couple of species. Others will follow as our experience grows and the site develops.

We have imported 150 tonnes of topsoil to the front of the North border so it will be moist but reasonably well drained and a good depth: perfect for a wide range of plants including Hostas, Meconopsis, and Primulas like the showy candelabra 'Miller's Crimson' that we already have growing well in the Middle Walk.
Somewhere in here I will probably try to grow the aptly named Meconopsis regia, although not right at the front of the border as it can grow up to to 2 metres in height.

A variety of other bulbs,shrubs and small trees will also be planted including Acers, Azaleas, dwarf Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Erythroniums, Trilliums, Anemones etc.

At the time of writing - Late April 2001 the site is partly planted, all of the 'framework planting of Camellias, trees and shrubs is complete on the South side and on the North side we are waiting for the ground to dry and for weeds in the new soil to get big enough to spray.

I have bought around 150 packets of perennial and bulb seeds from Chiltern seeds and these are now germinating in the greenhouse so by mid to late summer we should have a wide range of perennial 'woodlanders' to plant, mostly in the Camellia Walk..
These two pictures compare approximately the same view some four months apart. The left hand bed(North) is more or less planted, the framework of Camellias, Rhododendrons, Magnolias, Acers, Eucryphia and other shrubs or small trees is complete, all that is needed now is the underplanting of perennials and bulbs. Much of the back of the left border is occupied by the large Magnolias Wilsonii, Wiesneri and 3 specimens of M. x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' These are all tall growing and fragrant and visitors will look up over the Camellias and see the sun shining through the Magnolias.

December 2000

All of the large timber has been cleared and this was the last week with the hired chipper.


April 2001


Between the buttresses at the foot of the large oak at the far end of the bed provides ideal conditions for hardy Cyclamen, so here there are several clumps of C. hederifolium some C. coum and other species will follow as my young plants mature. The bank falling away towards the Beech at the far end will be carpeted by Wood Anemones, Erythroniums and anything else that likes the conditions there.
All content and design copyright © Rod Craddock 2001