The Gardens of Easton Lodge are Grade II registered Gardens near Great Dunmow, which are managed by volunteers for the benefit of the community and other visitors. The Gardens are registered by Historic England because of their history, including their redesign in 1902 by noted garden designer, Harold Peto, for their then owner, the Countess of Warwick. The Gardens’ history goes back to Tudor times, when Henry Maynard built his mansion and gardens on land granted to him by Queen Elizabeth I. Peto’s garden designs were highly fashionable, drawing on his extensive travel, including trips to Italy and Japan. The Gardens are the only example of Peto’s work in eastern England.
The Trust now manages the Gardens to preserve, conserve and protect their historic features and their biodiversity for the enjoyment of the public. The Trust and its hard-working volunteers have restored the walled kitchen garden, so that it is now productive again; recreated Peto’s treehouse; started the restoration of Peto’s sunken Italian garden; and taken inspiration from Peto to create and develop Japanese style features. The Gardens are beautiful in all seasons and the Trust opens them to visitors for their snowdrops in February and from April through to October.
The Gardens contribute to sustainability by supporting volunteers’ and visitors’ well-being – volunteers work at the Gardens all year round and the Gardens are planted to maximise visitors’ enjoyment through the seasons. The Trust also works in a sustainable way, for example by:
1. planting trees and plants to absorb additional carbon, compared to grassland;
2. supporting pollinators through the trees and plants planted;
3. limiting the mowing of many areas of the Gardens to encourage wildflowers, such as cowslips, bluebells, native orchids and grass vetchling;
4. putting tree arisings on the edge of the Gardens as deadhedge, providing homes for bugs and other wildlife, avoiding lighting bonfires;
5. composting garden waste and using it within the Garden; and
6. growing and selling vegetables, fruit and plants from the Gardens, which for visitors will have zero additional miles.
