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Edgworth and District Horticultural Society
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EVENING VISIT - 15th JUNE 2011



DOROTHY'S GARDEN, CLAYTON-LE-DALE



We visited the garden owned by Dorothy & Andrew Richards c3m North of Blackburn. They have lived here for 25 years and the garden boasts several mature trees and hedges. The garden has been opened under the NGS for several years.

It is situated on the edge of the Ribble Valley and there are stunning views of the surrounding undulating countryside. On a clear day you can see as far as Blackpool Tower, 30 miles away.

In the one acre plot there are numerous, well stocked beds with a mixture of unusual trees, perennials and tender plants.

Dorothy's Garden


Dorothy's Garden

Dorothy's Garden


It is a continually evolving plant collector’s garden with many areas to explore and loads of ideas to take home.

The garden is peaceful, has pleasant seating areas and is planted for interest in every season. There are sweeping lawns and the planting within the beds is informal. Much colour comes from trees and shrubs which have a themed yellow foliage. 

A variety of hedging plants have been used to create a partition and wind break across the garden and there are several rare Pelargoniums in the greenhouse. A large composting system provides home made goodness for the garden all year round.


Dorothy's Garden



The potager behind the privet hedge is comprised principally of perennial vegetables and fruit, mixed in with flowers for cutting. In the mature orchard there are old and heritage varieties of apples along with varieties of currants and blueberries. 

There is even an original sculpture - an enormous red rose which is just right for Lancashire, but not true: Dorothy saw the original on a trip to New Zealand a few years ago and commissioned a local blacksmith from Myerscough College to fashion her model from photos she had taken.

After an interesting tour around the garden we were presented with home-made cakes and refreshments and there were also a number of plants for sale to keep our acquisitive members happy.

Dorothy's Garden Rose