It could have gone horribly wrong…the weather that morning was the first significant rain we had seen for a while and nobody (probably) was looking forward to a wander in the rain. However…the weather gods smiled on our group of 20 and we were well-prepared for the slight sprinkling that was visited on us on an otherwise splendid afternoon.
Split into two groups of 10 and after a short introduction to the Messel family who created the estate in the 19th century, we wandered from the pinetum through the top garden, visited the rose garden (now denuded of roses for replanting) and into the wall garden, later passing the rock garden, the heather garden and the dry garden.
There was so much to admire – the Coastal Redwoods and Dawn Redwood, planted in the 19th century, that had survived the 1987 and 1990 storms which destroyed so much else of the original planting.
The gardens as a whole boast 69 national champion trees, and we spotted a number of these along our way. An example was the Magnolia wieseneri – which, having been propagated by the Messel family was the first one of its kind in existence…but we spotted a good number of these as we travelled.
Personal highlights included the Davidia “Handkerchief tree” , of which there were many to be seen; a yellow horse chestnut and a Cornus kousa which is the only pink example of this species.
The Messel family were plant collectors – vying with neighbouring estates to demonstrate the variety in their respective gardens. The Messel family sent expeditions across the world )South America and Tasmania amongst other places) to return with seeds and specimens to be propagated at Nymans – and the results of these expeditions were still there to be seen.
There was an opportunity to visit the – mainly ruined – estate house, which was seriously damaged in a fire on the day that the family was celebrating the 75th birthday of Leonard Messel in 1947. Shortly thereafter, in 1953, the National Trust took on the responsibility for the estate.
Our thanks to the very helpful guides who accompanied us, and the very successful visit was wrapped up with a refreshments on site before travel home.