THE PARK

Across the drive from the Service Wing lay the nursery garden, providing fresh vegetables and fruit.

The Head Gardener lived in the Lodge, and behind it was the home farm. From here fresh milk, eggs, butter and cereals could be taken immediately to the kitchen on demand.

A gate in the opposite wall and a short flight of steps gave access to the ice-well, where ice stored in the winter was so well insulated that it lasted all year for cooling wine and making ice-cream.

In Victorian times a range of greenhouses and hothouses were constructed to raise the exotic plants which were arriving in England from all over the world.

All through the 1840s and 1850s Nonsuch won top prizes in horticultural shows for exotic orchids and azaleas.

THE PARK TODAY

The recent unseasonal dry sunny weather has brought a bumpercrop to the Park —of people! —with andwithout their families and pets, strolling, jogging, picnicking, attending weddings, cycling, playing ball, enjoying a quiet sit outside the café or just lying on the grass, making the most of it. The drought hasbeenhardfor the trees but those of us who like to scuffle through dry autumn leaves have also had great fun. Now we have the mists and sharp frosty landscapes of winter to look forward to —maybe even a little (overnight) snow? Meanwhile the gardeners are clearing the summer bedding and making their plans for spring.