SWJGS Lecture – Creating a Japanese garden at The Newt in Somerset

“Creating a Japanese garden at The Newt in Somerset” by Maiko Ishida (JGS Trustee and professional horticulturist and garden designer)

In 2021 a new Japanese-inspired garden opened at this 300-year-old country estate. Modelled on the Chishakuin garden created around 1674 in Kyoto, it illustrates Japanese garden styles dating from the 15^th and 16^th centuries. This garden combines traditional Japanese design with locally sourced materials including stone from Hadspen Quarry for its garden walls, Blue Lias limestone paving and stepping stones, and oak timbers. Its roji-style tea garden features a bamboo entrance gate made in a chūmon (ʻmiddle gateʼ)-style and water features including a tsukubai (water-basin arrangement) and a suikinkutsu, where drops of water produce ringing bell-like echoes. The adjoining karesansui (dry landscape garden) showcases a collection of magnificent bonsai. Unusually for a karesansui garden, a strolling path enables a close view of an impressive stone arrangement representing a waterfall (taki-iwagumi) and many trees and shrubs pruned in the Japanese style.

To see a few photos of this new garden please look at the JGS website  select > See > UK Japanese style gardens open to the public > South West England

or click on https://jgs.org.uk/south-west-england-open-gardens/.

Please register in advance for the SWJGS Lecture by clicking on the URL below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tcuuoqTwiG9FCIEz72TFfr4cq4U10isOU

After you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about how to join the meeting from at 3:50 pm on Sunday 21^st August.

Meeting close approximately 5pm.