Judith Queree’s Garden

 

More than a score of donkey's years
He had been since he was foaled;
He munched the thistles, purple and spiked,
Would sometimes stoop and sigh,                                           
And turn to his head, as if he said,
"Poor Nicholas Nye!" ……………..

Walter de la Mare

Jersey boasts some impressive gardens, but to see the best ones you have to go off track. One of the best is found on the North west side of the Island at St Ouen, you literally go down a long track to find it. Judith Queree’s garden is her life’s work; in fact the last 36 years have been dedicated to the designing and planting of this sublime space. Judith and her husband have turned a barren piece of land into a garden that now has over 2,500 species of plants growing in complete harmony.

The Jersey climate helps of course; the warm sea keeps the temperature far higher than the mainland. The warm sea effect which is lessened at the centre of the Island, making it colder than the coast, does not affect Judith’s garden close to the sea. Even so the garden is not immune from severe weather, especially low temperatures that move in on the east to southeast winds but these dissipate by the time they reach the west coast. Winter temperatures on Jersey rarely fall below freezing, when it does happen it is usually only for short periods of time.

Driving down the track the first sight that greets you is a marvellously life like chicken wire sculpture of a donkey, which evokes the poem by Walter de La Mare.

 

 

                                                                                                                                           When Judith and her husband first discovered the run down property while on a walk, it was in a total state of neglect, the house requiring urgent restoration. Before work could commence in the garden seven large trailer loads of rubbish had to be loaded and taken away. The soil was no better than dust and full of stones; every bit of it had to be sieved. The garden could not support anything it was so barren and dry. A vast amount of mushroom compost was brought in to condition it, this also helping to sweeten the very acidic soil. The garden still needs regular mulching and toping up, but is now almost self-sufficient in providing its own compost requirements.

The now fully restored cottage

Judith’s one regret is that success has come comparatively late in life, she wishes that it had come sooner, at least before her knee’s had started to complain at the constant kneeling through planting and weeding. But the garden displays a maturity and understanding of colour, form, and harmony that only comes with age and experience. Judith backed this up herself when she said her ‘plants were on wheels’ during the early years of making the garden and that she made many mistakes. Now all Judith has to do is ‘tinker with the formula’. That formula can be described as a profusion of planting, with not one piece of soil showing, plants intertwining like lovers wrapped around each other, displaying like peacocks.

The top end of the bog garden with its mass of planting.

There are two distinct areas of the garden. Around the house is the place for plants that love hot and dry conditions, whereas the bottom bog garden section is fed by natural springs so it never dries out, making this the perfect spot for  moisture loving plants. There are 200 species of clematis with at least one in flower 365 days of the year. Salvias are also a favourite with over 60 species thriving in all areas of the garden.

 

The area around the cottage with the plants thriving in hot and dry conditions and the boardwalk which takes you over the bog garden

 

Judith gardens organically and does everything possible to encourage wildlife, because of this the garden is one of the top sites on Jersey to see moths and butterfly’s, some very rare. Over 120 different moth species have been recorded!  . Judith manages the meadow area of the property as a habitat for Voles which are the staple food of the Barn Owls that live in the garden. At night you can see the glow-worms and during the day Slow-worms bask in the sun.

    The charming mock boat house with its very own restored fishing boat is a beautiful feature.

Judith has an arrangement with a French horticultural college. They provide students to undertake work experience with her. The French love this type of garden, it being a total juxtaposition with the more formal gardens of France. Predominantly more than the English, the main visitor demographic are German’s who have a real affinity with this type of naturalistic garden, contrary to our preconceptions of a nation who may favour a more ordered landscape. But of course it was the Germans who took to the Arts and Crafts movement with alacrity and Judith’s garden although she took no influence from a particular style encompasses the arts and crafts method of planting.

The garden has areas and paths that entice you to explore

Judith has taken her inspiration from the plants themselves, not forcing them to grow in unnatural conditions and everything is in tune with the environment.  She rarely has time to visit the mainland and other gardens, but her other inspirations come in the shape of Dan Pearson and Beth Chatto. Judith loves Dan Pearson’s ‘calmness and naturalistic planting style, he is in tune with nature and that’s what I try to achieve here’. I also and most importantly owe Geoff Hamilton a huge debt of thanks as he inspired me to do this. He was a gardener’s gardener’.

    

The Shepherds hut another feature of the garden with its own sculpted sheep dog!

Information on visiting Judith’s garden as well as the garden features and a comprehensive plant list can be found at http://www.judithqueree.com/