Open your garden for World Topiary Day 2024
Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May 2024
On Wednesday May 12, 2021, Levens Hall, the oldest topiary garden in the world, launched World Topiary Day. Levens Hall is the oldest but also the most extraordinary garden in the world with more than 100 topiaries of varied styles including representation of Elizabeth I and her bridesmaids, a judge’s wig, a large umbrella, the ‘Howard Lion’ (important for all fans of ‘Wolf Hall’) four peacocks and a jug of Moroccan ale (commemorating a Levens Hall secret drink from the 17 century).
For Chris Crowder – the head gardener – it was a question of finding a way to show the famous topiaries at a time of year when they are the most beautiful. He observed that “while generally we have the most great press coverage in September, when pruning begins, a time when the topiaries are less beautiful and the advertising less useful because it is the end of the garden visiting season”.
The gardens of Levens Hall, having been created in 1694 by Guillaume Beaumont, a French garden designer trained by André le Nôtre, it is appropriate that EBTS France joined forces with Levens Hall. So once again, EBTS France is activating its international network to encourage gardens to open to the public and join in by showing off their amazing topiary gardens.
To participate, if you are a professional member of EBTS France or a member of EBTS UK or Belgium, simply send your details by filling in the form below before January 20, 2024. Communication of participants to the press will take place on Friday 26 January at the Cercle Interallié during the EBTS France Gardens Prize ceremony.