Gardening geeks, we’ve got some excellent news. The spectacular gardens of Gertrude Jekyll, one of the world’s most famous plantswomen and horticulturalists, could soon be opened up to the public. Exciting stuff, we know.
Jekyll, for those not in the know, was a horticulturalist (i.e. someone who studies gardens), designer and author. She lived from 1843 to 1932 and was hugely influential over garden styles both in the UK and abroad. Also an avid plant collector, Jekyll introduced at least 30 new varieties to the UK.
So, as you’d expect, her garden is quite something. Called Munstead Wood, it covers 11 acres near Godalming in Surrey and was Jekyll’s home from the 1890s onward. The garden features plenty of her original planting but also retains the same paths, walls and pond as it did nearly a century ago. Munstead Wood’s house is also definitely worth a look, which was built at the height of the Arts and Crafts movement.
The entire property was recently put up for private sale and subsequently snapped up by the National Trust. It’ll now be restored and eventually reopened as somewhere that the public can visit to enjoy and learn more about Jekyll’s work. Here are a few pics of the place.
That being said, don’t get too excited about visiting Munstead Wood just yet. It isn’t expected to open to the public for at least a year, with final designs for its restoration yet to be confirmed. You can find out more about it all on the National Trust website here.
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