Through the Archway to the Apples and Pears…
I’ve finally made my first visit to the Storey Tasting Gardens in Lancaster — something I’ve meant to do for ages. And I’m very pleased I did. The gardens are to the side of the Storey Institute, sandwiched between the busy main road to the train station and the city’s medieval castle.
Follow the sign….
The archway leads down steps to a garden of two halves: the first a grassy area dominated by a magnificent copper beech and bordered by a tall and beautiful brick wall. On the other side of the wall is an initially confusing maze of paths punctuated by concrete bollards and a lovely collection of apple, pear and plum trees. Some of the varieties were developed locally.
The Gardens are owned by the City Council who share management dutieswith the Friends of Storey Gardens.
Lady’s Finger of Lancaster apple tree and Fiona, a volunteer with the Friends of Storey Gardens.
It’s thought that fruit trees have been grown on this site since the 1600’s. The present day paths and trees were conceived by an American artist — Mark Dion — 20 years ago. What I took to be bollards are in fact plinths which used to be topped by larger than life representations of apples, pears etc in bronze. Sadly the bronzes were stolen after the Gardens were closed for refurbishment in 2006. They remained closed to the public for more than a decade.
But since March this year the Gardens have been open again. The Friends are keen to see more visitors and to attract more volunteers to help them maintain and restore this beautiful and historic green oasis in the heart of the City.
Click here for The Friends of Storey Gardens website and more information about the story of this wonderful green and historic site.
“The Arboriculturalist’s Workshed” — a working tribute to the gardeners who developed our rich variety of fruit trees.