If you are lucky enough to have a walled garden you will know what a boon they can be specially for growing vegetables and fruit. This 5 acre garden is in Helmsley North Yorkshire and has outstanding fruit and vegetables despite the climate. There is information on fruit grown within this garden on Gods Own County. For further information about walled gardens there is a Walled Kitchen Gardens network meeting at Hampton Court on 16 October 2009.

Tips from a Walled Garden

• Think about the different micro climates in your garden. A walled garden accentuates and creates micro climates that you can use to your gardening advantage but you have many already..
• Build your first wall to protect from the prevailing wind usually the west. That way you get protection and early morning sun.
• You can ‘fan train’ Peaches, Gages and Apples against a wall and also grow Clematis
• Under a dry wall in the rain shadow you can plant a dry or Mediterranean garden with Herbs, Santolinas and plants that like hot dry conditions.

Statues and Sculptures.

Walled gardens do not normally have the space for much in the way of statuary but this water feature took my attention. I would be interested in any other interesting statues or special features on a similar theme.

Similarly space prevents the use of ornamental trees except fruit trees. There are many heritage varieties on display at Helmsley.