Actress Emilia Fox and naturalist David Bellamy open Future Gardens in Chiswell Green (From Watford Observer)

Actress Emilia Fox and naturalist David Bellamy open Future Gardens in Chiswell Green

4:59pm Thursday 18th June 2009

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IMAGINE David Bellamy rolling the word: “Evolving” around his tongue and you have an idea of the enthusiasm and excitement he and fellow patron Emilia Fox demonstrated when opening Future Gardens, the first phase of Butterfly World near Chiswell Green. While David praised founder Clive Farrell’s “hands-on genius”, The Silent Witness star said she felt like a four-year-old anticipating Christmas.

“To think that only nine months ago we were literally standing in muddy field. Now under one year on it’s like paradise on earth filled with the most beautiful and fragile representives of nature – the butterfly.”

To think that only nine months ago we were literally standing in muddy field. Now under one year on it’s like paradise on earth filled with the most beautiful and fragile representives of nature – the butterfly

Emilia Fox

Emilia is used to working in muddy conditions as her Silent Witness persona Nikki Alexander and fellow pathologists try to decipher the details of a grisly crime.

“I’ve had to work with maggots and cockroaches,” she tells me. “Things like insects, pollen, moss and wildlife can tell forensic experts an enormous amount.”

Walking around the 27-acre site, there is plenty to attract insects both in the butterfly house and permanent displays, such as the Through the Flowerpot Garden and the 12 temporary designer gardens, which will change every four months. Members of the public are invited to submit their designs for future inclusion.

An additional charity garden will be on display for a year. Currently, this is Harry’s Garden designed by Fern Alder, which supports The Meningitis Trust (www.meningitis-trust.org) and certainly gives pause for thought. Sponsored by Emilia Fox, it is a heartfelt tribute to Harry Mills, son of Marlow residents Judi and Richard Mills, who died from meningitis two years ago.

“Harry's Garden means a lot to me as it has an emotional connection,” says Emilia. I became the sponsor because our genius founder Clive Farell knew Harry, the little boy who died. His spirit grows on among the sweet peas and the sunflowers.”

Harry’s parents tell me the garden features sunflowers grown by Harry’s schoolfriends and a special variety of sweet pea grown by Roger Parsons Sweet Peas, Lathyrus ‘Harry Mills’ named in Harry’s memory and artist June Kingsbury has created glass sculptures to represent Harry’s love of sports. Designed by Fern Alder, the garden has spiky hedgehog planting, wildflower grasses and is truly child-friendly as a bubble machine tucked in among the plantings represents Harry’s love of fun.

Among the 12 designer gardens, Roger Phillips The Chalk Garden stands out with its stark almost blinding whiteness inspired by visits to disused chalkpits. Designed to change with the seasons, the garden is planted with wild marjoram and various rambling types of roses, large sedums and wild strawberries among other plants, which will all thrive in the chalk rich environment and become a lush landscape over time. By contrast, the warm Mediterranean hues of Bruno Marmiroli is an exotic creature exploring the relationship between myths and sacred spaces within gardens. Bold zinnias, butterfly roses and marigolds catch the eye while the heady wood scented hyssop and delicately fragrant snapdragons delight the olfactory senses. The contrasts between the colours and different levels of the garden are equally satisfying - the bloom-filled white prarie, russet gold sacred area encircled by wooden decking and the outer colourful prairie with its pink flowers and organe skin wall makes for a comforting almost womb-like experience.

The beauty of all the gardens, walkways, paths, butterfly house, glass houses, meadows and grasslands, however, is that they are all designed to attract, feed and house butterflies and these were majestically in evidence from day one - see what you can spot on your visit.

Future Gardens is open daily 9.30am to 6pm. Details: 01727 869203, www.futuregardens.org/

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