It is a sunny spring day at The Hall in Bradford on Avon.

Estate manager Richard Cook carries a tray of tea, coffee and biscuits towards the stone summerhouse, situated in the Rock garden, at The Hall. It’s tea break time for the garden volunteers, and as they have a rest from their busy morning of gardening activities they sit together and catch up.  A stone eagle statue towers over the proceedings, clinging to the roof of the summer house, as an ever-present reminder of John Moulton (Alex’s grandfather), who oversaw the creation of this garden at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Firstly, I take a photograph of the volunteer group holding a freshly printed A4 sign reading: “Get well soon Richard” it is a sign for fellow volunteer Richard Horsley. The group wanted to pass on their ‘best get-well wishes’ to him. A gesture that indicates how much of a team this gardening group has become in only a short space of time.  

The summer house is situated in the shadow of a spectacular-looking quarry cliff side that stretches upwards some 5-5 metres high. This area is known as the Rock Garden and it was created as an ornamental garden and later dedicated to the memory of Eric Moulton – John and Alice Moulton’s younger son who was tragically killed in action during the First World War In more recent years it has become overgrown and the volunteers have been working hard to clear the undergrowth and expose it to sunlight again..  Many trees have been cut back allowing for more light to come shining through.

The Rock Garden is starting to take shape now and it is almost ready for the new planting to begin.  Tom Murphy is working with Richard Cook and the volunteers to select a range of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to grow here in the manner that was originally intended.  

Around the grounds perennial plants are now in bloom such as Hellebores - a welcome addition with their rose-like blossom in winter time; when other flowers are scarce they bring a welcome architectural quality to any garden.   

In the wooded areas that flank the sides of the grounds of The Hall the soft sweet fragrance of primroses (primula vulgaris), and the pungent aroma of wild garlic (allium ursinum) will soon be in the air as these plants begin to unfurl their petals.  Spring brings fresh floral displays of pastel colours of pink, yellow, green and white hues upon a canvas of green shapes and gravel. Daffodils and Cherry blossom are also now starting to bloom adding colour to the mainly green-hued palette within this garden.

Richard Cook has been a taking excellent care of The Hall and its grounds for over 35 years.   He is keen to share his enthusiasm for the garden grounds and many intriguing stories of Dr Alex Moulton. Evidently Dr Moulton preferred horticultural simplicity as Richard worked to the instruction that “a garden is green shapes and gravel".” Perhaps this gave him the outdoor space to think in the way he did – there are many benches placed around the gardens positioned for contemplation, some with handy bicycle racks attached so that the bicycle did not have to be laid down on the ground. Each summer house was equipped with a small stove for making tea, another aid to the thinking process.

The Yew trees (Taxus baccata) positioned along the front lawn of the house, continue to be pruned to Dr Moulton ‘s specification, so that he could view The Hall from his office window in the Spencer Moulton Research Laboratory in the Kingston Road.  The Yews now appear tall and wise within the gardens. If only we knew the stories this garden could tell and those of the people that who have visited over the years.

Volunteers George Lunt and Tom Murphy are busy moving large rocks to help create a dam of sorts for the pond area in the Dutch garden. These ponds have been cleared of weeds and a Japanese-style wooden bridge stretches across the ponds. This area of the garden was one of the last to be developed by Alex Moulton, unearthing the ponds that had been filled in shortly after the Second World War and marking his love of Japan with the new bridge. As with the Rock Garden, these ponds had almost vanished in vegetation growth in recent years.

Dr Alex Moulton had a cycle track built so that he could continue cycling in his later years of life. It also enabled visitors and customers to discover the magic of riding a Moulton bicycle around the grounds. On this sunny day in early March, Glenys Lunt and Sue Horsley are busy clearing and tidying the rock garden area and woodland path.

Next, I visit volunteers Susie and Bill Kern in the apple orchard, who are busy clearing the ever-creeping ivy and pruning the archway.  The apple trees still produce an abundance of apples, however perhaps some of the trees have now seen better days. As I join them to talk about what it’s like gardening at the Hall, Susie cheerfully chats to me as she clears all of the Ivy that has over taken the apple orchard arched frame. Susie explains that she prefers the “fair weather gardening days” so today is perfect for her. Husband Bill is busy pruning the apple trees back to a formal state. 

The apple orchard was once part of a larger growing incentive in the 1800s– to grow food and be self-sufficient. In earlier days of life at The Hall– a Peach and even a Cucumber house once existed here and a team of at least five gardeners took care of the estate.

Richard and his superb garden volunteers have clearly made a difference to the gardens here.   If you begin to understand the art of gardening, you will soon realise it’s truly rewarding. Getting fresh air and exercise are all a bonus on top of the actual gardening.  I’m certain it is seeing the positive results of the volunteer’s hard work that encourages them all to constantly improve these historic gardens. I shall certainly look forward to my future visits and to see the next stage in The Hall’s garden transformation.

Sadly the Garden Group are not able to continue their work during the current Coronavirus situation. However, they look forward to returning as soon as possible. If you are interested in joining our Garden Group, please contact us.

You can read more about The Hall Estate and Gardens here.

Words and Photographs by Kate Berry.