In response to the global crisis in bee populations bumblebee ‘lodges’ are being installed in amongst the vegetable and fruit beds and orchard in the Walled Garden at Harewood for the second year.

Head Gardener Trevor explains it’s all part of Harewood’s conservation and sustainability strategy, “We use bumblebees to help with pollination in the orchard and vegetable garden. Bumblebees carry more pollen, visit more flowers and work at lower temperatures than the average honey bee and we’re keen to support British bumblebee populations as much as we can.” The Beepol bumblebee ‘lodges’ were installed last year for the first time and were a great success with bees buzzing happily in the borders.

What’s new this year, is a wax-moth-guard which attaches to each of the Beepol Lodges…

The nests and hives of a number of different bee species, including bumblebees, are sometimes invaded by wax moths. Wax moths lay their eggs within or close to the bee nests and the larvae hatch then disperse into the nest feeding on the contents. If nests are invaded during the early stage, then the wax moth infestation is often fatal.

Amazingly, the bumblebees soon learn how to push open the guard to leave and return to the nest. Wax moths however, are neither strong enough or clever enough to do this! It’s a great chemical-free solution.

You can find out more about the Beepol Lodges, and wax-moth-guards on the Beepol website, and Beepol Lodges will shortly be available to purchase from our Bookshop and Plant Stall in Terrace Cottage here at Harewood.

Gardens have become such important places for bees – here at Harewood the Gardens Team also make a point of growing bee-friendly plants such as salvias, catmint, raspberries, lavender, green manures such as phacelia, and other flowering shrubs.

Beekeeping Taster Days and Demonstrations…

The Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association also have a working apiary in the Walled Garden where they run Beekeeping Taster Days and demonstrations throughout the summer, helping people to find out more about bees and get some hands-on experience if they are thinking about keeping their own…

Explore the delights of the Walled Garden this summer!

Click here to visit the gardens webpages for videos, recipes and more…

This year as part of Royal Harewood celebrations in the House, we are planting our own ‘Dig for Victory’ bed in the Walled Garden. A scaled-down version of the original Dig for Victory beds, this will be a learning resource for school groups and also an opportunity for visitors to look back on the history of the Gardens at Harewood.

The Dig for Victorycampaign was launched at the outbreak of the Second World War. It encouraged people to cultivate their gardens and grow food to support the war effort.

This year at Harewood we are recreatingDig for Victory Leaflet No.1 on this bed (see poster).

We have sourced, where possible, varieties of vegetables that were grown during the war years.

Whilst the bed is not as long as recommended in the poster, we have tried to be as true to the planting plan as possible.

Visit the Walled Garden this Summer, and feel free to ask a gardener for more information!

HRH Princess Mary made Harewood her home thoughout 4 decades and saw many changes in the use of the Gardens at Harewood, especially during the war years. She was also a keen gardener and plantswoman herself, and had a significant impact on the Gardens – the legacy of which is still visible in the Gardens today.

In 2012 we will also be launching a new rose ‘Yorkshire Princess’, a fitting tribute to the Princess who loved roses and had many varieties planted on the Terrace here at Harewood in her time…

Read more about the Gardens on our website…

http://www.harewood.org/grounds/gardens

This Spring the Harewood Learning Team have introduced new sessions for Schools, including a new session in the Walled Garden for pupils to get hands-on experience of planting, growing and harvesting their own crops as well as learning about the wartime ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign!

Harewood Head of Learning Jennifer Auty with one of the Kirk Hammerton pupils taking part in our new Walled Garden ‘Dig for Victory’ School Session

Head Gardener Trevor Nicholson delivered the first session to pupils from Kirk Hammerton Primary School who were thrilled to see their pupils learning while getting their hands dirty and having fun in the fresh air too!

The new ‘Dig for Victory’ School Session allows pupils to discover more about the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign and get some hands-on gardening experience to learn what life was like in the wartime years when rationing and food shortages were part of daily life.

This extended session also reveals more about Harewood’s involvement in the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign as well as the wartime years at Harewood when the Terrace was dug up to create vegetable plots and the Gallery in the House was used as a ward for the convalescent hospital.

You can find out more about our Learning Sessions for Schools on our website www.harewood.org/learn and contact us to request a brochure learn@harewood.org

Read more about the Gardens on our webpages…

Check out this month’s edition of Living North to read more about Harewood’s award-winning Gardens…

The feature focuses on our Walled Garden and recent developments to see it restored to it’s former glory.

An evocative place, tucked away beyond the lake at Harewood, the Walled Garden is a true hidden gem with a secret doorway into a paradise of cultivation!

You can sample the delights of the Walled Garden in our Courtyard Cafe and Terrace Tea Rooms – check out the menu next time you visit Harewood!

Produce is also available for sale in the Courtyard Shop… bettroot, broad beans, cauliflowers and fennel are all good right now!

Read more about the award-winning Gardens at Harewood here…