Quenington Open Garden – An interview with Lucy and David Abel Smith

7th April 2022

What do you get from opening the garden?
David: I feel very fortunate to be able to open up the garden, and to be able to give back in this way. I want to encourage other people to enjoy everything that is associated with the garden. I was the former Chairman of Cobalt and wanted to help where we could. The Garden is opened up in partnership with the Rare Plant Fair in aid of Cobalt and helps to raise over £3,000 each year. Also the Cobalt volunteers are fantastic, the food on offer is very good and it is a very enjoyable day.

We also open the garden for the Fresh Air Sculpture. This year will be the 30th year of the show. (The show takes place between Sunday 5th June and Sunday 26th June). The excitement of the show is the huge diversity of materials exploring a variety of media: from stone to textiles, ceramic to glass, sound to video, mosaic to metals, rubber to resin. Monumental pieces sit alongside smaller works. The Pool House is converted into a modern gallery shop showcasing the best in contemporary design and craft – glass, textiles, leather, jewellery, ceramics and more. The show attracts around 11,000 visitors!
It can be tough being an artist, from up and coming artists to established artists and the show provides an opportunity for them to showcase their work.

Since what date have you opened your garden?
The garden and the house has actually been within the family one way or another since the 1920’s. The garden has opened since the 1950’s. Originally it sat between 2 working mills – the paper mill and the corn mill. A pathway was added around the garden and a substantial vegetable garden.

We have lived here for 38 years and are thrilled to have had Robert, our terrific gardener working with us for 37 years. He started at 18 and was trained by our former gardener Esme Bradburne. The garden is quite unusual with the River Coln running through it, and has some lovely old trees. We also have several glass sculptures in the garden which change in the light. It creates different moods around the garden. The garden has a healing quality, a stillness that can revive people’s spirits.
The Glass is by Sally Fawkes again from one of the early shows. Sally Fawkes and Richard Jackson have been showing their work at Quenington for 20 years. Sally has made a special anniversary piece for the show. See the website www.freshairsculpture.co.uk

What is your favourite part of the garden?
Some of the wilder parts of the garden are Lucy’s favourite – where the mill race and river meet to go under the bridge by a big blue spruce; the water sounds are lovely. David’s favourite is where the tranquil river meets industrial activity. This part of the garden is known as Mesopotamia, named for a former Head Gardener, Esme who was a Major in the army.

Interesting sculptures, tell us a little bit about your favourite sculpture?
David’s favourite sculpture is the Golden Girl who stands near to Mesopotamia. The Golden Girl was part of the sculpture show and is by Carol Peace, it is made of resin and the head is modelled on the artist’s own.

What input do you have with the garden?
We work in partnership with our gardener, Robert who is brilliant. I love experimenting, one of the joys of the Rare Plant Fair is being able to bring something new into the garden and watch its development.

Quenington Rare Plant Fair and Open Garden
Where and when
Sunday 10 April 11 am to 4 pm
The Old Rectory, Quenington, Near Cirencester GL7 5BN
Admission
£6 per adult includes the garden, children under 16 free.
Please note that no dogs are allowed in the Garden or Plant Fair (except assistance dogs)
Parking
The main car park is at the Old Rectory, with overflow parking on the village green (5 min walk). Blue badge parking is available at the house, on a first-come, first-served basis. Please follow the directions of the parking assistants when you arrive at the Fair. Plant pick-up point available in the main car park.
Accessibility
The majority of the Fair and Gardens are accessible to wheelchairs and those with mobility issues. An accessible toilet is available.
Event Catering
Light lunches, cakes and hot and cold drinks will be available from The Pool House provided by Cobalt.

About Quenington
This Grade II listed Old Rectory with its organic garden has been developed over the past 40 years and is in a very tranquil setting on the banks of a mill race, with the River Coln running through the gardens. The wooden bridge that spans the river encapsulates the quirky spirit of fun, creativity and history that comes together at Quenington. The history of the site probably stretches back to the 12th century, when the Knights Hospitaller had a preceptory in the village. Esme Bradburne, a former head gardener, who read Agriculture at Oxford, was one of the original founder members of the Soil Association. The garden is still run completely on organic lines and Esme’s work was seminal in creating much of the planting that we see today. Although the present layout goes back to 1928 when the Old Rectory was bought from the church.
There are herbaceous borders, mature trees, pool and bog gardens, as well as a large vegetable garden. The garden contains a permanent sculpture display. Discover more: https://www.rareplantfair.co.uk/our-fairs/2022-the-old-rectory-quenington-nr-cirencester/