Liz Noble to Jenny Woods
Lovely to receive your email today. I think you/we should shout pretty
loudly.


Interesting, your point about the “switches” suggestion on the paths. This
was actually one of the FAO bits that I quite liked, but in a rather
perverse
way. Yes, it would be trying to control the visitor (”access denied”) - and
to me that immediately opens up the exciting element of temptation to
trespass. I visited the garden in the Autumn and, like you, was enchanted by the sheer
romance of it - especially the peach walk and pond area. Feeling like an
intruder definitely added to the experience. Having areas becoming
overgrown,
thickets, I love. But I suppose any designer would need to be interested
in expected visitor numbers - if hordes must be planned for some things
would
just not be possible.\


Your comment about the Stipa made me think about childhood experiences of
being physically smaller in gardens, feeling plants arching above me.
Wouldn’t
it be fantastic to go a bit mad with quite ordinary things - buddleias,
honeysuckles,
big species roses, unpruned overwinter to create a tunnel-like experience?
Or even a network of tunnels?



Why do you feel this way about the allee, do you think? How important do
you think was the connection with the woodland? I was rather horrified by
the possibility (which I think was in Nialls brief somewhere) that the
woodland
entrance be removed altogether. For me this is a really magical bit of the
garden, it’s connection with the hillside and woodland which makes up such
a strong part of the atmosphere inside. Even if it is in some way
restricted,
or hidden, I feel it is essential this remains.


One aspect of the allee I loved (especially as I saw it against the low sun)
was looking South through the filigree of trunks, glimpsing the space
beyond.




Another thing I note about the FAO paths is this implicit assumption that
the garden will have a perimeter “gallery” planting round the curve. I know
that is the whole historic purpose of the structure - BUT. It is a beautiful
surface in its own right, it could  support plants trailing off into the
central area. It could even visually “repel” masses of planting in places.



Absolutely agree with your comment about the gutters (oops! water channels).
Daft is the word - I kept thinking maybe I was missing something critical
about drainage, but the site doesn’t seem to have any special problem here
does it? As far as that Southeast gate goes, my understanding from the
climate
parts of the FAO stuff was that without some opening in this, the lowest
corner, the wall would create a significant frost hollow, trapping the cold
air.



It’s strange, isn’t it, how a garden can be so powerful that it can draw
people in like this? I think what is happening is fascinating because Niall
is allowing the process to be accessible - licence to visit, comment,
fantasise,
and like you (and plenty of other people, I’m sure!) wish it were mine.


The big question has got to be - if the FAO suggestion is not right, what
would be?  No, haven’t visited the gardens you mentioned - maybe one fine
day.  Anyway, having had an enjoyable nosey around your website I realise
my waffling and questions will probably be the last thing you want after
the day’s work, so will sign off now.