15,000 Bulbs Bloom at Chiswick House Gardens
Results of last autumn's planting initiative becoming apparent
Spring flowers have appeared in the gardens. Picture: Chiswick House & Gardens Trust
April 23, 2023
Last November one of the largest ever planting initiatives was undertaken at Chiswick House Gardens with staff and volunteers spending a week laying down 35,000 bulbs.
This hard work is now yielding result with 15,000 spring flowers already in bloom in the Kitchen Garden including different kinds of tulips and daffodils.
Varieties such as ‘Tete a Tete’, ‘Pueblo’ and ‘Baby Boomer’ have been planted to provide food for pollinators across the side. This is part of the effort by the gardening team to encourage more resilient and coherent ecological networks and well-functioning ecosystems.
The Kitchen Garden has existed on the same site since 1682 although, during that time, it has seen many different owners and periodically been subject to disrepair.
In 2005, an enthusiastic group of local volunteers got together with the intent of developing it into a community resource. The Chiswick House Kitchen Garden Community project now provides teaching for residents, schools and community groups about horticulture and growing food.
The restoration of the walled gardens started in December 2009 when the Chiswick House and Gardens Trust took it over with financial support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. This allowed the conversion of the old stables in the Kitchen Garden into a learning centre.
The Kitchen Garden in blook this April. Picture: Chris Frost
There are now 50 regular volunteers and community partners participating in the volunteer programme which has won a series of rewards.
The Kitchen Garden is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. There is also an opportunity to buy organic produce grown on site from the shop in the Conservatory. Tickets start at £2.25 for children and £4.50 for adults with no charge for members.
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