Torre Abbey Botanical Gardens: ‘We are back!’

All the Co-ordin8 horticultural group are once again back at The Botanical Garden, Torre Abbey. After the relaxing of Covid restrictions we are all back helping to give our skills and experience in growing and look after plants once again. Stephen Algar said ‘ It’s great to be back. I like being at Torre Abbey as the grounds are so interesting with lots of unusual exotic plants.’

Stephen Algar has been a gardener since 1980 and says ‘I like all types of gardening because I have always been interested in the natural World.’

Liz Jones learnt gardening from her farther quite a long time ago. Liz says ‘ I’ve worked on farms with pigs and sheep and I’ve grown crops to eat both outdoors and in greenhouses too. The thing that I like about Torre Abbey is that it is such a large garden with so many different types of areas in it eg. pond, tropical house, outside gardens with flowers and trees. I like the cactus house best because they are all shapes and sizes.’

Sue Cox says ‘ I’ve been gardening for years now. I used to do it in Birmingham with my Brother growing veg and climbing roses. I like helping in the gardens at Torre Abbey as it is such a nice place. It is also lovely to see and meet some of the public that visit too when they are on holiday in the area. The Abbey and house are very historic and contain lots of beautiful paintings and ornaments too. I like gardening because it relaxes me and lets me get outside.’

David Parnell has gardened for over fifty years. He says ‘ I used to plant the bedding plants at Torre Abbey for the council many years ago and mow the grass with a petrol driven lawnmower. Nowadays I have a more gentle approach to gardening. I find it restful and like listening to the birds singing which are much more happy than the television. The garden has changed quite a bit over the years and now the head gardener Ali Marshall and her volunteers have made the garden very tidy with eve more plants.’