Raworth Garden

 

So far my time as a student has been damn good fun, the magnitude of the place is like nothing I’ve seen before and the collections of plants are utterly glorious! The grand era of Victorian gardening still holds some sway here, and this sense of history is both exciting and charming. However, over the course of my three years at Hidcote I developed an obsession with a wild, rambling style of horticulture that suits me to a ‘T’, and that I intend to pursue for the rest of my gardening career. This style is not entirely catered for at Kew, but as of this month I shall not be losing any sleep over that fact as I have taken a Saturday job at the Raworth Garden, just across the Thames at Twickenham. This garden was created by Jenny & Richard Raworth some 40 years ago, and is strongly influenced by Hidcote and several of my other favourite gardens. The planting is informal, dense and luxurious, and surrounded by a formal structure of mature hedging and topiary. The main peak of flowering interest explodes in early-summer, but the garden remains intriguing throughout the seasons. Perhaps best of all, a Bengal cat called Benny reigns supreme here, and is the most entertaining and cheerful character I have encountered since old Buster at Hidcote! From here on in, I will be splicing my Kew adventures with tales from Raworth; I hope this new arrangement will be agreeable. Please see here for an introduction to the garden and a large collection of delightful images!