Meet our garden volunteers: Mary
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Selly Manor Garden is a special place
As part of the Selly Manor Garden project, we decided to increase voluntary activity. For the past year we have welcomed several new volunteers. Over the next few weeks, we'd like to take the opportunity to introduce them, starting with Mary:
"I really enjoy being outside. One of my favourite parts of gardening is growing from seed and cuttings. It’s a real boost to see seeds germinate and grow into large plants. I was a school teacher so I like routine and the different seasons, but I also enjoy experimenting with plants, trying out different combinations and finding a balance. I get frustrated when I can’t get out at least once a day (rain!) but that’s when you’ll find me in my greenhouse.
I enjoy volunteering at Selly Manor because I get to meet people – visitors, staff, and other volunteers. I like that the garden is full of history, that it replicates plants and features you’d see in Tudor gardens. It’s great talking to visitors about the garden and answering their questions. Gardens are community spaces and important for wellbeing and mental health, and a great place for children to learn.
My favourite features in the garden are the topiary because of its structure and that it’s always there, the wildflower area because it’s full of pollinators. I like that the garden isn’t too neat, and things are allowed to self-seed.
The garden changes a lot throughout the year, I think the woodland area the most, it was bare and open in the winter when we built the bug hotel but takes on a whole new atmosphere in summer. The kitchen garden is barren in the winter too, which really makes you think about how the Tudors must have harvested so much in preparation. Now it’s so full and we’ve produced chard, chives, onions, and garlic. Apples and blackberries are appearing as the season goes on.
If I could garden anywhere in the world, it would be somewhere where it only rains at night! With at least 6 hours of sunshine but not above 22 degrees. I have favourite plants for different times of the year – Roses, Sweet peas and Erigeron (little daisies) are my top three. If I could be any plant, I’d be an evergreen because they’re always there and I would never miss anything!"
Mary - Selly Manor garden volunteer