Levens Hall is located in Kendal, Cumbria next to the River Kent. The 17th century topiary gardens and park were constructed during the Stewart period. The large Elizabethan mansion is known to be the finest of it’s kind in Cumbria. The original pele tower was constructed in the 13th century. A French Horticulturist, Monsieur Guillaume Beaumont was hired to layout the gardens in the 1690's. He had previously trained under Andre Le Notre at the Gardens of Versailles in Paris. The formal topiary garden is certainly the most impressive garden at Levens Hall. It is located adjacent to the house, and is probably one of the oldest topiary gardens in the world, with some shrubs dating at 300 years old. The structures are made up of both green and gold yews Taxus baccata 'Aurea' as well as boxwood, Buxus sempervirens. The hedges are divided into sections making a formal pattern of geometric shapes. The massive topiaries are 20 feet in height and shaped into various shapes such as the chess pieces, spirals, crowns, peacocks umbrellas and lions. The parterre (areas inside the low box-edging) is planted with annuals for bright and showy seasonal color. The figures are shaped once a year in the late summer. The trimming takes four to six weeks to complete. A massive shrub and vine border next to a large wall that lines the pathway form the topiary garden to the orchard. It is planted with clematis, philidelphus and actinidia. The fountain was re-installed just a few years ago. Four radiating paths surround the circular fountain and are covered in an arbour of Tilia cordata. The massive 20 foot beech hedge was laid out in the 1690’s and is under laid with wild garlic. Touring the grounds was a special treat after learning about the gardens in many of Dr. Steven Still's courses. Walking around in the large topiary garden made you feel as if you were in Alice's Wonderland. For more information visit: www.levenshall-co.uk
Sarah Heist, reporter. Sunday, 18 June 2000.
