Gardens

The sub-committee was established following the Extraordinary AGM in 2021, during which issues surrounding tree cutting and communication about works were discussed. The sub-committee met for the first time in October 2021, during which they drew up their constitution and defined their aims. Since then, the committee has met on a monthly basis on average.

The remit of the sub-committee includes managing the existing maintenance required for the Gardens and other areas of Rowley Park, as well as developing a plan for future maintenance. In 2021 a four-year plan was drawn up to address the necessary work to maintain the trees and shrubs.

Additionally, the sub-committee agreed to hold events to raise money for the upkeep and improvement of the gardens, with the aim of holding four events per year.

A collage of the Pleasure Gardens: a path between lawns and shrubs, a golden conifer, a large evergreen tree, open lawn under blue sky, and a Rowley Park Pleasure Gardens title card

Photographs

The Pleasure Garden through the seasons

Open lawn in the Pleasure Garden with tall conifers and shrubs in summer — The Pleasure Garden 2021

A woodland path between yew and conifer trunks in the Pleasure Garden — The Pleasure Garden 2021

A shaded glade of evergreens with a path through the grass in the Pleasure Garden — The Pleasure Garden 2021

A memorial plaque on a tree trunk beside the curled iron arm of a garden bench — The Pleasure Garden 2021

The Pleasure Garden under snow, with snow-laden conifers and a red-brick house beyond — The Pleasure Garden 2020

Snow-covered conifers in the Pleasure Garden against a pale winter sky — Pleasure Garden 2020

Pictures from Rowley Park – The Story of a Stafford Estate by Roy Lewis. Select a picture to view it full size.

Plans

Gardens 2025–2027 Plan

Objective

Add more colour, interest, and scent to the garden
Increase biodiversity
Attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects
Avoid pesticides, herbicides, and poisons
Use natural mulch

Download Plans Here

PDFThe 2025–2027 Plan (15 pages)Open

Planting plan drawing of the Pleasure Gardens along Lawn Road, with labelled positions for new plants — Gardens 2025–2027 Plan

Exciting new plants coming soon

Find out where the following new plants will be planted by downloading the plans now.

Crab Apple Tree, Pink Perfection
Hellebores
Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
Wild Cyclamen
Rambling Roses
Camellias
Azaleas
Hamamelis Mollis
Astilbes
Flamingo Feathers
Geranium Rosanna
Cornus Sanguinea Midwinter Fire
Woodland Ferns & Snowdrops

There remain a number of maintenance and management challenges that require careful consideration over the next phase of the plan. The sub-committee is keen to follow the advice of the Head Gardener of Dorothy Clive Gardens in addressing the decline in the rhododendrons through pruning and shaping. We aim to avoid using herbicides and pesticides, and we are committed to respecting the bird nesting season, which lasts from the end of March to the beginning of September.

We also believe that the Pleasure Gardens can play a role in reducing the decline of pollinators. By adopting a planting and mowing regime that allows some of the grass and wildflowers to grow, while keeping the majority of the grass closely cropped, we can contribute to this effort.

Adhering to these principles presents several challenges for the sub-committee. Observing the nesting season limits the amount of time major work can take place. Avoiding the use of chemicals necessitates exploring alternatives such as citronella or mechanical root removal, which can be more expensive. Additionally, we need to carefully consider a planting scheme for the two verges on Rowley Avenue, which, after the loss of the oak, appear sadly neglected.

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