Garden and Green

In a grand Cornwall garden the only crunch is from the carrots.
In the second of a three part series on working life at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, here we find out about Charles Fleming of the Productive Gardens !

17th September, 2008

All in a Days Work

The Lost Gardens of Heligan offers over 200 acres for exploration with a breadth of interest throughout the year. From Productive Gardens and Pleasure Grounds to a sub-tropical Jungle and Outer Estate incorporating ancient woodland, farmland and a pioneering Wildlife Project there is a special part of Heligan everyone can enjoy.

Once an entirely self-sufficient estate with over a thousand acres at the end of the nineteenth century, this majestic symbol of a now lost world became veiled by blankets of bramble and ivy, after the First World War brought an end to many estates of its kind. The Victorian Productive Gardens, which once would have produced not only daily food staples for the occupants of Heligan House but also the highly prized exotic delicacies such as pineapples and peaches, became overgrown with self seeded sycamore and bramble.

After tireless restoration and clearance work, in which Charles Fleming played his part from the early beginnings, the Productive Gardens and surrounding estate has been returned to its former glory. The Victorian Productive Gardens include a 2-acre Vegetable Garden, walled Melon yard and walled Flower Garden, which grow between them over 200 varieties of fruit and vegetable. Growing predominantly pre-1910 varieties using only hand methods to grow the delicious crops, which are incorporated into the daily lunch menus in the Heligan Tearoom, allows the traditional practices of Victorian horticulture to be displayed in a kind of living museum.

For Charles, who has now worked at Heligan for over 15 years, carrying out methods by hand is particularly important when it comes to weeding. Rather than use chemicals or even a hoe Charles prefers to make use of another tool.

“I use a hoofpick to weed! I know it may seem a strange choice but as far as I’m concerned it’s the best way to get out the entire weed, without leaving root in the ground.”

Charles Fleming’s Day
07:00 Arrive at work and open up the Productive Gardens – Vegetable Garden, Melon Yard, Flower Garden.
07:30 Raking paths to clear leaves and make tidy for the visitors arrival. Mainly focusing on Eastern Ride.
10:00 Morning crib break - Tea (and maybe a yeast bun from the Heligan Tearoom or even gardeners porridge in the winter!)
10:30 Start jobs for the day.
Hoof pick weeding in any parts of the Productive Gardens to make the gardens look at their best for visitors.
Clearing brambles in the Outer Estate, particularly focusing around the Wildlife Project.
In the winter and spring forking over the ground ready for the coming season. I seem to wear down forks at a remarkable rate!
In the autumn collecting seaweed from the local beach is a particular favourite job. The seaweed is then spread on sections of the gardens to maintain healthy soil.
4:30 The end of the day. Cleaning tools and then off for a well deserved glass of cider and a rest!
 

Charles Fleming Hard at work at Heligan Credit: Heligan Gardens