Six of the best small gardens to visit this year
The National Garden Scheme is not just about grand country gardens. Here are six of the best small gardens to visit
7 March 2021 • 6:00am
42 Falconer Road, a small garden in Hertfordshire, is open this year for the National Garden Scheme
Credit: National Garden Scheme
The National Garden Scheme probably conjures up visions of grand country gardens open for charity, but there is much more variety than this: allotments, hospice gardens, community gardens, schools and many small gardens.
Some open in their own right, others as part of a group, but they all offer a staggering array of planting and design ideas to take home.
Gary Holliday, of Consett, has been given the Masons’ Livery Company - Journeyman Mason Certificate Award for 2021. The award from the Worshipful Company of Masons is given to those who have displayed consistently high levels of craft skill for a period of at least 10 years and who have demonstrated their commitment to furthering not just their own craft, but also skills of their mentees and apprentices. Above all, it serves as formal recognition from Gary’s peers that in his pursuit of excellence in his trade, he is shining example of his profession. Gary trained to become a mason as an apprentice at JLD Stone based in Thornley, as well as training at York College between 2002-2005.
High priority for the UK government right now? Statues, of course. A statement released by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick to both Houses of Parliament this week introduces new legislation which, it is claimed, will be as important in heritage terms as the introduction of Conservation Areas in 1967. The removal of ‘historic statues, plaques and other monuments will now require full planning permission’ under the mantra of ‘retain and explain’, regardless of whether they are already listed or not. Historic England will oversee what is proposed and the Secretary of State will be the final arbiter if requests from local councils are judged questionable.
Reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic
From working as Pudsey Bear, reporting on fat dogs, and filming a documentary on orangutans, to telling the story of a global pandemic, Harriet Bradshaw’s journalism career has been eventful.
Harriet (Archaeology and Anthropology 2005) has worked in local radio and regional television in Jersey and Devon, and, since March, has worked alongside BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym on the COVID-19 pandemic.
She says: “When I was asked if I wanted to be paired with Hugh Pym on the coronavirus story – they said ‘we think it might be a big deal’ – I told them, you know how tall I am?
Does Lucy Worsley have children?
Lucy and Mark do not have children. Speaking to
The Times back in 2018, Lucy opened up about her decision not to have kids. I don t want it to be the thing that defines me, and I don t think it should be the thing that defines me, and I don t think other people should be interested, she told the publication
. Obviously, I have talked about it in the past, so I can t say I m not going to talk about it anymore, but I was naive. I didn t realise what I was getting into.
The presenter and historian lives in London with her husband Mark