With the Wiggly Wigglers podcast team taking a short break, now is the perfect time to take a look back at some personal favourites. This week I am revisiting a fairly recent special (Podcast 0116) when Richard visited the home of Sir Roy Strong, The Laskett in Herefordshire. It is a moving and poignant portrait of a much loved garden and a tribute to Sir Roy's late wife, Julia Trevelyan Oman.
On a recent trip to Hay-on-Wye I picked up a second hand copy of Sir Roy Strong's book "A Country Life" which starts with an introduction to the garden, followed by a collection of articles that he wrote for Country Life between 1989 and 1994. The entries are described as, “a kaleidoscope of memories and evocations”.
A Country Life contains a plan of The Laskett so it was great to be able to follow the route Richard and Sir Roy Strong took through The Laskett. In his book, Sir Roy Strong's passion for the English countryside, gardening and cats comes through loud and clear.
With regard to cats he states, "I am afraid that no door is toosacred not to have a hole cut through it to facilitate the passage of these glorious creatures
".
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to this podcast, put your feet up and prepare to be transported to one of the most beautiful Herefordshire gardens and share one man’s passion for country living and gardening.
The podcast team is Heather Gorringe, Phil Gorringe (aka Farmer Phil) and Richard Fishbourne (aka Ricardo).