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GARDEI\ING WAYSWhen Gary Webb isn't tending the grounds at Compton Verney, heenjoys sharing his gardening thoughts, ideas and dreams with others

s I sit typing, my famiiy are yet to wake, the brrdsare arnving at the feeder, and the sun is ris ng onwhat looks to be another producttve day at work.

Oh but of course, I sti have a toddler to wake andnappies to change before I can even think of headingout to work w th my secateurs & sandwichesl

I spend my working days part managing the groundsat Compton Verney, and count myself extremelyfortunate to be able to help mainta n and develop one ofthe sweetest 1Bth Century landscapes & pleasuregrounds in Warwrcksh re. The listed Grade 2* groundsrun to 120 acres these days, & their current form owesmuch to the hand of Lance ot 'Capabi ity Brown, andthe passion of today's staff who strive to restore andreunite elements of the orgina des gn. 'Variety' sumsup a typica working day, and l've grown to ike var ety.

I spend a lot of t me trying to understand the spacesrn whrch I work. (Personally, I can't help but study agardenl) Wh e I have a strong nterest in new gardendes gn, I have been lucky enough to have worked ingardens that have been cultvated by g-onerations of

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people. I flnd l've become fascrnated by ihe memones& atmosphere that run through the typ cal Elizabethanbrick wal ed garden, the carved stone bridge of aGeorgian p easure ground, or the Victorian ash path ofa cottage garden all of these are living and growingmuseums, and I love thenr.I look at how each garden was created, trying tounderstand why the owners, sometimes two or threehundred years previousy, went to so much trouble andexpense to achieve the r vislon. I get huge enjoyment fromtrying to f gure out how a garden was constructed, andwhat the finished garden was supposed to ook like(a owing for the fact that many gardens are never truly'finished'). Occasronally, my knowledge is improved by oneof those amazing documents known as a 'Conservationand Management Plan'. lfind these plans invauable andfasc nating. They they bring every4hing together, and reallyhelp put an histor c garden into context.

I try hard not to get too bogged down n history, andI enjoy developing gardens, even histor cal ones, to suitour needs ln the 21st century. I am sure, however, that

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our understanding of a garden's past is vital, in order tomake the nght choices for the future, espec ally when itcomes to add ng new features.

Without respect - not only for the garden, but for thehard work, ingenuity and enterprise of those who havegone before , I don't think an ind vidual can truly care fora garden, or get the best results from it. I like to believethat my interests heLp me understand what needs do ng,where, and when. lt m ght be when a shrubbery needs togrow wild, or be regulariy pruned, or when a tree needs tobe severely pruned, or even removed.I belleve what s most important (and crucial torestoring or ma ntaining an old garden), is to understanda garden's design, structure and layout - allvital factors,that ult mately determine a garden's success.Understanding the structural elements of a garden -path networkS, level changes, tree posrtions, viewpornts

is key, lf you get this right, plant choice, tree planting,lawn management, and developing one's garden further,will be much easier, and hopefully more in keeping.

It is through our eyes and experience that we gathermost of our gardening knowledge, and I have beenlucky to learn from some wonderfully knowledgeab e

:""""""""""""""':i 0pen Gardens lnformalion: www.ngs.org.uk :i :11:::::1::iTr:::it::1T:ririrrlir:::::::::::::rlT:::::rirt i62 warwickshrre living

Warwickshire'Yellow Book' GardensOver 3,700 gardens across England and Wales open on behalf of the National Gardens Schemeeach year. The 'Yellow Book' entries are always interesting - gardens for gardeners - and includesome seldom-seen gems. Charities that will benefit this year include Help the Hospices and CrossRoads Care. The following are just some Warwickshire gardens open in May.I Monday May 2 (Group Opening 11am - 4pm, combined admission t3, children free)Earlsdon Gardens, CVs 6FSFascrnating selection of town gardens, from small to more fomal, with interest for all tastes, includinga Plantaholic's gardenI Sunday tl4ay 29, Monday May 30Broad Marston & Pebworth Gardens (Group Opening, combined admLssion 15, children free). Some sma Lbutvery nterestinggardenssetamongthatchedhamletof BroadlVarstonandaroundthehi IlnPebworth

head gardeners. I particulary like the podcast producedfor Compton Verney, which inc udes an intervlew with theprevious head gardener John Schuman, and andscapehistorian John Phlbbs.

The great thing about gardening is there is such arlch mix of garden styles and forms. Wbether wegardeners have specia st areas of rnterest; work asemployees, or volunteers, or garden purely forrecreation and pleasure, we're all individua , and all ofus - for better (or worsel) - bring something unique andvery personal to our gardening

Linked to my gardening, s a personal blog I like toproduce called 'Gardening Ways,'. This is a comparativelynew venture for me, but it's become an effective way toshare my thoughts and garden photos, and it hasbecome a great way to interact wrth other gardeners. l'vea steadiy growing set of gardenng'followers', whoregularly pass comment. Do pop online for a look, youcan reach me there and comment if you feel the need -you're more than welcomel

l'll be nipping along in this milder weather to visit oneof the 'yellow-book' gardens promoted under theNational Garden Scheme. Do you have an unusua orquirky gardening tale to tell? Or a garden inWarwickshire that you'd I ke me to feature? lf so, do getin touch & l'll be happy to pop along & take some noteslUnt I next time, enjoy your gardening. I

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