September celebrates four-year project at Wentworth Castle Garden – The Union Jack Gardens
24th September 2024
What has become known as the Union Jack Garden was first planted in 1713 by Thomas Wentworth’s gardener, John Arnold. He knew it as the Wilderness. Arnold followed a design thought to be by the Royal Gardeners to Queen Anne, the London and Wise Partnership. The idea of a wilderness was to create an enclosed and secluded area for contemplation largely cut off from the distractions of the wider landscape, using high hedges and dense planting. The two Wilderness areas were known by Arnold as the Great Wilderness and the Little Wilderness.
The layout of the garden follows the design of the flag, the cross of St Andrew and the cross of St George overlaid on one another.
We don’t know when the name Union Jack Garden was first used but one theory is that the use of this design for Thomas Wentworth’s Garden may be a tribute to the failure to overturn the political union of England and Scotland in 1713. (Michael Charlesworth, New Arcadian Journal 79/80).
Arnold planted huge numbers of trees including Holly, Yew, Oak and Laurel which he often raised from seed in his Nursery on site.
“I have planted Above 900 trees in the willderness and shall Continew planting in the willdenes of small plants to fill up the quarters”
The planting was declared complete in 1714 however, the work didn’t progress without problems. Arnold reports;
“the larg piramed yow (yew) as your Excellency was plased to order to be planted in the center of the largest willderness is dead”.
It’s rare for a garden design to remain in place for over 300 years but careful restoration and maintenance has ensured that this treasure is here for us to visit today. It was extensively replanted and restored in 2005 by the Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust, but now we celebrate yet another chapter in its history.
How could Thomas’ tribute, planted so long ago, continue to inspire and speak of issues that are important to modern audiences? From this simple idea came the concept of re-imagining segments of the gardens for and by local communities. Placing participation by the local community at the project’s heart resonated with the fact that the National Trust cares for Wentworth Castle Gardens as part of a partnership, whose aim is to provide opportunities for the active involvement of local people and organisations. The project (2021- 2024) has been funded by Barnsley Council and National Trust.
A diverse range of groups have worked to re-imagine this area for the 20th Century. They have chosen their own objectives for the project, whether to demonstrate a love of nature, create a place for reflection, inspire a celebration of wildlife, provide a living document of their journey to these shores or to share a passion for growing.
Community groups who have taken on the challenge include local schools such as Barnsley Academy and Greenacre School; the U3A; ‘Open Country’, who provide opportunities for those with a range of disabilities to engage with nature; ‘Feels Like Home’, who help migrant communities to feel at home in Barnsley; ‘Creative Recovery’ who use creativity to support mental health and recovery. Segments have also been taken on the Wentworth volunteer and outdoors teams.
Working with a N.T gardener, individual groups have designed their segment, including built structures, prepared the ground, planted and maintained their segments. They have written copy for the professional interpretation boards for their segment.
Staff, volunteers, funders, partners and community group will be getting together to celebrate this achievement at the end of September. Why not be one of the first visitors to explore these re-imagined segments and imagine the impact that they will have on the overall experience of Wentworth Castle Gardens moving forward?
