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Welcome to our Head Gardener’s Journal

In this monthly column, we will share technical aspects of our work and also keep you up to date about ongoing projects. If there is any topic you might want to hear more about, please ask during your next visit!

A View for all Seasons

At the heart of Worcestershire’s beauty lies its stunning landscape: On three sides, the county is bordered by steep hills, enclosing the Vale of the River Severn, leaving only one opening in the south onto the Bristol Channel. In the west, the Malvern Hills form the border with Herefordshire, stretching for 7.5 miles and containing some of the oldest rock in England. This geological structure, the Malvern Axis, continues to the north to the Suckley and Abberley Hills and the Wyre Forest. From there, the Clent Hills and Lickey Hills turn eastwards. At the boundary to Warwickshire, south of Redditch, lies the Arden Sandstone escarpment. In the south east, towards Gloucestershire, the ground rises to the Cotswold Escarpment.

Morton Hall is perched on the edge of the Arden Sandstone Escarpment and blessed with breath-taking views to the Malvern Hills, Abberley Hills and Clent Hills, especially from the higher levels of the house. To reveal the views at ground level as well, gaps were cut into the tree line along the top of the escarpment. As a result, the landscape unfolds below the lawn of the West Garden, offering awe-inspiring vistas which change dramatically throughout the year.

Topographic Map of Worcestershire and location of Morton Hall.
The spring landscape is clad in gentle green, interrupted by brown patches of freshly seeded fields.
In the Summer, as the crops ripen, the Abberley Hills glow gently in the setting sun.
On misty autumn mornings, only trees and hedges stand out from the milky fog blanket on the valley floor.
The winter sun and frost bring yet another quality to the view as they change the palette to soft pastels.