It’s great to see the heather parterre coming into flower just outside the exit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
This flower bed was only planted this spring, so the success of the plants is a testament to the good soil preparation and careful management carried out by our fabulous gardens team.
Scottish heather has many myths associated with it, including only growing on ground where blood has been shed and growing over the final resting place of fairies. Traditionally it had many uses, for household purposes (for example as bedding or the bristles on a broom) as well as for its medicinal properties.
The aim of the planting scheme is to create a natural flow from the house to the gardens, drawing the eye of our visitors down towards our Shakespeare Aloud! actors who are ready and waiting to perform at their request.
This is a sustainable perennial scheme so we’ll hope to see it return again next summer too.