it is accessible again as a calm retreat . We are carefully thinning out the rhododendrons at the end of the lawn to open up views to the summer house and beyond to Knole Park .
The school may not be ready to recreate a working kitchen garden , but we have restored the allotment below Sennocke House garden . Braving wet and muddy weather , the Grounds and Gardens team cleared brambles , repaired brickwork and set up sheds and a greenhouse . The overgrown hedge and tree boundary with Knole Park was reduced to provide much needed light and amazing views . Today , the allotment is tended by the student Green Team providing bountiful harvests for a local food charity , including pumpkins sold as a fundraiser before Halloween .
Meanwhile , behind Cottage Block , the site of the old outdoor swimming pool – long out of use – has been transformed into a mindfulness garden , offering space for reflection . A gravel path leads through wildflowers to a beautiful sakura ( cherry tree ) one of 7000 given by the Japanese to parks and schools across the UK to commemorate the long-standing friendship between the two countries ; an appropriate symbol of how nature helps people connect . The archway marking the entrance features a sign above the old wrought iron gates welcoming us into Ashley Gardens ; we think these may have been recycled to the school from a London street many years ago .
As a result , a wildflower meadow is in development . Paths will weave their way through the meadow to seating areas for private study or relaxation , as in the adjoining Observatory lawn , behind the former Head ’ s House , which provided a stunning location for the summer production of A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream .
Between the old kitchen garden and Claridge lawn , a small , neglected summer house was barely visible . Following a gentle restoration of the building , including the original wooden church panel interior ,
We are considering making a second entrance into the mindfulness garden which would connect it to another part of the grounds with a commemorative purpose : the two pools created as a Jubilee Garden for Queen Elizabeth ’ s 25th year on the throne . Forty-five years on from 1977 , we have ordered 70 roses to create a Platinum Jubilee rose bed nearby . The roses will be surrounded by a carpet of lily of the valley , one of the late Queen ’ s favourite flowers . Other plans include creating an area for beehives . Our beautiful campus continues to evolve for the benefit of us all . We are indeed very fortunate .
Anne Persson , Director of Property
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