“The Garden at Levens”
By Chris Crowder
When younger, Chris spent all his happiest holidays in the Lake District, and came to live there just as soon as he could! He knows the area inside out, having walked the fells, climbed the crags, explored its mine workings and sailed its lakes.
He trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and has been Head Gardener at Levens Hall for over twenty years. Gardening is his life and sharing his enthusiasm and expertise for the subject is his passion...
He has appeared in many TV and radio features, and writes regularly on gardens and gardening. He travels extensively to advise and teach, and is much in demand as an entertaining and informative speaker. He also actively promotes the Gardens of the Lake District across the world.
Chris lives in the Head Gardener’s house at Levens Hall with his wife and two children.
“The Garden at Levens”
by Chris Crowder
photographs by Vivian Russell
Winner: Lakeland Book of the Year Award
Hardback, 192 pages, 100 colour photographs
& 30 B/W illustrations
Signed copies from the author:
£25 inclusive of postage and packing
(most destinations)
... a splendidly unpretentious and beautifully crafted book.... You feel by the end of the book you know Levens - Country Life
... a smashing book, large format and with superb photography by Vivian Russell - Cumbria Life
... affectionate, informative history, half of which is devoted to the garden today, draws on a wealth of surviving primary-source material, allowing the voices of bygone gardeners to speak as the garden itself continues to do - House & Garden
“The Garden at Levens”
“At Levens Hall in the Lake District are the most famous and elaborate topiary gardens in Britain. They were first laid out in 1694 by Guillaume Beaumont, who also worked at Hampton Court Palace. The gardens have changed little since.”
“In addition to the famous topiary, the gardens display stunning seasonal bedding, a "wilderness", an orchard and vegetable and herb gardens in a series of small compartments, making them a useful source of inspiration for visitors. There is a wealth of contrasting features, and an impressive collection of plant varieties, not to mention the earliest ha-ha, or sunken ditch, in England. The gardens at Levens Hall resonate with their 300-year-old heritage while incorporating new developments and changing influences.”
“Head gardener Chris Crowder narrates the rich history of the gardens and presents a detailed horticultural description of them today and the work that goes on there. The text is illustrated with new photography by Vivian Russell as well as illustrations from the Levens archives.”
The author...
