A Garden of Vision and Love …. and sharing

The Dorothy Clive Gardens.

I have visited on many occasions but never in the height of summer, so it was a refreshingly different feast for my eye.  Located in North Staffordshire close to the Cheshire and Shropshire borders in a strongly agriculture landscape.  Built in in an old quarry that was within the grounds of the Clive Family (more about the Clive’s later), it is a mix of high woodland, dark groves, rich borders packed with a seasonal mix and all in a sweeping parkland.

Yesterday was a hot day, our hottest so far this year… so long shadows and rich highlights met the eye and proved challenging for picture taking…  but join me on this visit and I hope enjoy as much as I did….

The Garden takes it name from Dorothy Clive.  It was in 1907 when Miss Dorothy Clive married Harry Clive… yes, unusually they shared the same surname.  Harry Clive embarked upon a military career and became Colonel Clive and later became Deputy Lieutenant of the County and a Justice of the Peace.  Dorothy loved by all accounts, to be outdoors and to wander through the grounds surrounding their home.  Sadly ill health started to hinder explorations.  It was perhaps this that triggered a desire by the  Colonel to create paths and make easier access to more of the estate … a small path way in the quarry became the start of what we enjoy today.

Dorothy died in 1942.  In 1958 Colonel Clive set up a Trust to care for the gardens in perpetuity as a memory to Dorothy but also to make the gardens available to a wider public. 

In more recent years the Royal Botanic Glasshouse has been added to assist the protection and propagation of some of the more fragile species.

 

I hope you have enjoyed his hot summer visit….  I also guess like many other of our gardens, this season strange run of weather has taken its toll and made life challenging for the small team of gardeners, doing their best to present the gardens and the flowers at their very best.

Tuesday today…. and it is even hotter, another record breaker…

So keep cool and as always….

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

30th July

(C) David Oakes 2024