life
GARDENING
Petunia Blue
The Princess and
the Gardener
Jo Macaulay interviews Chris Beardshaw about the
garden he has created at Carisbrooke Castle, which is
an homage to former resident Princess Beatrice.
In March 2008 Chris
Beardshaw was awarded the
contract to create a new garden
at Carisbrooke, to be known as
The Princess Beatrice Garden.
How did Chris feel about being
chosen to design the garden?
“I was delighted, as
Carisbrooke has so many
memories for me,” said Chris.
“My family regularly visited the
Isle of Wight on holiday and
my partner, Frances, who also
worked on the project, was born
in Newport. I have a photograph
of myself as a child, standing
on the ramparts that overlook
the very space where the new
78
of the castle itself to formulate
garden has been created.
a design that for me echoes the
“Before I started designing
Edwardian era and I hope would
the garden I looked at the
have pleased the Princess. It is
photographic and documentary
not meant as a recreation but as
sources available which indicated
homage to that period and to
that the garden was mostly used
the Princess herself.
as a productive space but by
“I was also really inspired
the turn of the 19th century it
by a painting of Beatrice as a
became purely aesthetic in its
young girl, where she appeared
purpose. Plans dating back to
vibrant and full of energy and
1923 show that the garden was
the caption underneath quoted
mainly laid down to lawn with
Queen Victoria’s description
the addition of a few shrub and
of her daughter as ‘La petite
flower beds. Enough survived to
Princesse Beatrice….est si jolie’ provide guidance on pathways
I’ve tried to capture that spirit in
and old gate entrances and I
the garden design,” he added.
also drew inspiration from the
Sunflor
plan Citrien
that emerged was
heraldic crest and architectureDianthusThe
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