1 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,489 ALAN POWER: Welcome to the National Trust podcast. 2 00:00:13,289 --> 00:00:15,729 I'm Alan Power Head Gardener at Stourhead. 3 00:00:15,739 --> 00:00:19,270 Gardener, Lover Of Nature, everything outdoors and 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,879 generally curious mind. 5 00:00:22,879 --> 00:00:25,510 In this series, we'll be exploring the Trust's amazing 6 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,239 spaces delving into stories and characters that make each place 7 00:00:29,250 --> 00:00:30,420 so special. 8 00:00:31,309 --> 00:00:34,279 We'll be traveling all around the country from hilltop to 9 00:00:34,290 --> 00:00:37,970 seaside. We'll tread sandy paths and the polished wooden floors 10 00:00:37,979 --> 00:00:39,029 of country homes. 11 00:00:39,279 --> 00:00:42,810 Delight in bird song, sublime views and exceptionally good 12 00:00:42,819 --> 00:00:46,709 cream teas. So join me on this journey and immerse yourself in 13 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:48,569 the wonders of the National Trust. 14 00:01:00,659 --> 00:01:03,340 Today I'm in Northern Ireland and I'm driving towards one of 15 00:01:03,349 --> 00:01:08,629 the most astonishing gardens in the UK, Mount Stewart. I'm about 16 00:01:08,639 --> 00:01:10,540 13 miles east of Belfast. 17 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:14,129 So not far away from the largest city in Northern Ireland. But 18 00:01:14,139 --> 00:01:18,160 what I can see out of my window in the car is worlds apart from 19 00:01:18,169 --> 00:01:20,650 the hustle and bustle of that busy city. 20 00:01:21,089 --> 00:01:24,379 On the right hand side, this amazing lough appears called 21 00:01:24,389 --> 00:01:27,830 Strangford Lough. Now, Strangford Lough is an inland, 22 00:01:27,830 --> 00:01:31,690 salt water lake with a tiny, tiny exit point into the Irish 23 00:01:31,699 --> 00:01:34,290 Sea and the tide rushes in and out. 24 00:01:36,540 --> 00:01:39,290 I worked at Mount Stewart many, many years ago. So sitting in 25 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:41,839 the car, I'm very excited to get to see the garden again. 26 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,440 The garden here at Mount Stewart has been thriving ever since it 27 00:01:52,449 --> 00:01:55,730 was established by the rich and powerful Stewart family who made 28 00:01:55,739 --> 00:01:58,300 their money from selling fine fabrics like linen. 29 00:01:58,650 --> 00:02:02,750 They bought the estate originally in 1744. 30 00:02:02,750 --> 00:02:05,160 The property was passed into the care of the National Trust in 31 00:02:05,169 --> 00:02:09,070 the late 1950s. One of the characters we're going to hear a 32 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,020 lot about today is Edith Lady Londonderry, whose imagination 33 00:02:13,029 --> 00:02:15,679 and passion shaped this place in the 19 twenties. 34 00:02:18,699 --> 00:02:21,350 In the late 19th century, she married the eldest son of the 35 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,429 Stewart family, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart and 36 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,699 cemented her position as one of the most high profile society 37 00:02:28,710 --> 00:02:29,669 women in Ireland. 38 00:02:30,809 --> 00:02:34,270 She brushed shoulders with the likes of Winston Churchill, Lady 39 00:02:34,330 --> 00:02:37,559 Astor and Harold Macmillan. And she was often the subject of a 40 00:02:37,570 --> 00:02:39,710 little bit of gossip and scandal in the newspapers. 41 00:02:40,770 --> 00:02:44,309 But away from the politics and the parties, Edith used the vast 42 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,300 gardens at Mount Stewart as a place of peace reflection and 43 00:02:47,309 --> 00:02:51,190 self expression. Today, the garden still bear the hallmarks 44 00:02:51,199 --> 00:02:54,490 of the design Edith started almost 100 years ago. 45 00:02:58,889 --> 00:03:04,639 Wow, it's quite a dramatic entrance to the garden. You 46 00:03:04,649 --> 00:03:09,960 leave this massive expanse of water behind huge, huge skies 47 00:03:09,970 --> 00:03:13,419 and then all of a sudden you're utterly encompassed by an 48 00:03:13,429 --> 00:03:17,559 already unusual plant collection. I'm walking past 49 00:03:17,570 --> 00:03:22,100 kind of giant Pittosporum you know, they're, they're huge 50 00:03:22,110 --> 00:03:25,190 plants that would normally just grow to 10 or 15 ft. 51 00:03:25,199 --> 00:03:29,539 But these are, these are almost like trees and I always kind of 52 00:03:29,550 --> 00:03:31,660 think of Mount Stewart as a little bit of a scratch and 53 00:03:31,669 --> 00:03:35,089 sniff garden and a lot of Pittosporum have a lovely scent 54 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:39,869 to it. And if you squash the leaf and smell it, it's a really 55 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,710 lovely citrusy smell. 56 00:03:46,759 --> 00:03:49,720 The garden is a fanciful feast for the eyes formally clipped 57 00:03:49,729 --> 00:03:53,149 hedging laced with luxurious colourful planting. It's 58 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,259 astonishing. There's plants from all sorts of exotic climbs. 59 00:03:57,270 --> 00:04:00,389 Brazil, Australia, Burma, just to name a few. 60 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,410 And of course, proudly presiding over these spectacular gardens 61 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,610 is Mount Stewart House a grand affair. It was Edith Lady 62 00:04:08,619 --> 00:04:13,070 Londonderry's family home in the early 20th century and today its 63 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,799 doors are open to the public who are invited to enjoy its charm 64 00:04:16,809 --> 00:04:17,480 and splendour. 65 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,890 Now, one of the first impressions you get of the 66 00:04:29,899 --> 00:04:32,399 garden at Mount Stewart is that there are very formal elements 67 00:04:32,410 --> 00:04:36,540 to it. So I'm meeting up with Lisa Risse-Robertson who is a 68 00:04:36,549 --> 00:04:39,380 gardener in the formal garden at Mount Stewart to learn a little 69 00:04:39,390 --> 00:04:45,315 bit more about it. Hi, Lisa, how are you? [Alan and Lisa Talk 70 00:04:45,315 --> 00:04:45,399 over each other] 71 00:04:45,399 --> 00:04:48,029 It's brilliant to think you're standing in a garden like this 72 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,299 surrounded by the amazing plants that we can see today that you 73 00:04:51,309 --> 00:04:54,220 know, you do have to start with research. You do have to start 74 00:04:54,230 --> 00:04:57,160 with getting the facts right and making sure that I suppose what 75 00:04:57,170 --> 00:05:01,109 you do as a gardener here is true to what Lady Edith did you 76 00:05:01,119 --> 00:05:03,829 know, back in the 1920s and 1930s. 77 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,380 LISA RISSE-ROBERTSON : Yeah, I have to do it because what we 78 00:05:06,390 --> 00:05:10,179 do, we want to keep the garden close to what Edith has done. 79 00:05:10,459 --> 00:05:13,529 And I think that is quite nice for me as a gardener because I 80 00:05:13,540 --> 00:05:17,190 can walk in her shoes for a wee while. And that's what I like. 81 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,820 I try to get into her thinking. So what Edith has planted in 82 00:05:21,829 --> 00:05:26,190 here? So I can look in the books and see what she had in there. 83 00:05:26,399 --> 00:05:30,350 But mainly I have to work with the colour scheme Edith left us 84 00:05:30,359 --> 00:05:33,149 and of course, it has to be exotic. If it's possible. 85 00:05:34,299 --> 00:05:36,700 ALAN POWER: You have a lot of southern hemisphere plants here. 86 00:05:36,709 --> 00:05:39,450 Mount Stewart, don't you? Do you focus primarily on the southern 87 00:05:39,459 --> 00:05:41,989 hemisphere when you're looking for some of the plants for the 88 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:42,390 garden? 89 00:05:42,799 --> 00:05:45,690 LISA RISSE-ROBERTSON : No, I focus on every plant, every 90 00:05:45,700 --> 00:05:49,950 plant which would fit into the colour scheme and give me 91 00:05:49,959 --> 00:05:53,260 everything I wanted for this garden like fragrance and hide, 92 00:05:53,269 --> 00:05:58,809 it goes in. So try it. We have a lot of plants to play with, why 93 00:05:58,820 --> 00:06:00,223 not playing with it? 94 00:06:00,223 --> 00:06:01,500 ALAN POWER: Lisa, We're very far north- 95 00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:05,760 What is so unique about the microclimate at Mount Stewart 96 00:06:05,769 --> 00:06:09,510 that allows you as a gardener here to play with the plants the 97 00:06:09,519 --> 00:06:10,029 way you do. 98 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,549 LISA RISSE-ROBERTSON : We are here on the Ards Peninsula. So 99 00:06:12,559 --> 00:06:16,649 we are more or less enclosed with water. So we have at the 100 00:06:16,660 --> 00:06:20,230 south side Strangford Lough where we get, believe me or not, 101 00:06:20,239 --> 00:06:25,429 a lot of sunshine. Although this is Ireland! Ireland is always 102 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,739 regarded as a rain hole! We get a lot of sunshine here. 103 00:06:29,750 --> 00:06:33,019 And at the other side, we have the Irish Sea and the Gulf 104 00:06:33,029 --> 00:06:37,839 Stream. It makes it quite- quite nice and warm. But our 105 00:06:38,079 --> 00:06:41,609 microclimate really comes from the shelter built we have around 106 00:06:41,619 --> 00:06:46,149 here. You have to think about Mount Stewart as a big duvet 107 00:06:47,059 --> 00:06:50,559 where the garden is sitting in the center and this big duvet is 108 00:06:50,570 --> 00:06:53,299 lying over us which are trees around us. 109 00:06:55,049 --> 00:06:57,100 ALAN POWER: So I'm just about to catch up with Neil The Head 110 00:06:57,109 --> 00:06:59,619 Gardener at Mount Stewart and he's gonna tell me a little bit 111 00:06:59,630 --> 00:07:05,609 more about another compartment in the garden. 112 00:07:05,609 --> 00:07:07,070 Morning, Neil. How are you doing? 113 00:07:07,119 --> 00:07:08,149 NEIL PORTEOUS: Very good. Thanks. 114 00:07:08,829 --> 00:07:12,179 ALAN POWER: Neil, We've only really got time to catch the tip 115 00:07:12,190 --> 00:07:14,989 of the iceberg today in a couple of the compartments at Mount 116 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,260 Stewart. But could you give us an overview of the rest of the 117 00:07:17,269 --> 00:07:17,730 garden? 118 00:07:17,989 --> 00:07:20,420 NEIL PORTEOUS: Well, there are about seven formal compartments. 119 00:07:20,429 --> 00:07:23,920 Each one has a theme. We're in the Mairi Garden then on to the 120 00:07:23,929 --> 00:07:27,910 Italian Garden. And then you go around to the west of the house 121 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:32,239 with the Sunk garden, which is all about scent and contrast of 122 00:07:32,250 --> 00:07:36,089 strong colours, blue, orange, and other hot colours like red 123 00:07:36,100 --> 00:07:36,679 and yellow. 124 00:07:37,579 --> 00:07:41,619 And then on to the Shamrock Garden, a garden which expresses 125 00:07:41,630 --> 00:07:44,519 Edith's love of Irish and Scottish mythology. 126 00:07:44,529 --> 00:07:47,390 And around the outsides of those are much more informal areas 127 00:07:47,399 --> 00:07:50,700 like the Peace Garden where all the family pets are buried. And 128 00:07:50,709 --> 00:07:55,500 then into lily wood, which was for her love of scented oriental 129 00:07:55,510 --> 00:07:58,570 lilies. She used to make potpourri out of these petals. 130 00:07:58,579 --> 00:08:00,489 So it was a great theme for her. 131 00:08:01,859 --> 00:08:04,850 ALAN POWER: And we're right into the Mairi Garden a very 132 00:08:04,859 --> 00:08:07,630 different feel and much less formal than the compartments 133 00:08:07,709 --> 00:08:12,220 that we've just seen. And right in the middle of this garden is 134 00:08:12,230 --> 00:08:16,480 an amazing statue of a young girl with bells and cockle 135 00:08:16,489 --> 00:08:18,730 shells, dripping water into a fountain. 136 00:08:20,959 --> 00:08:23,730 And that is Lady Mairi Neil, isn't it? 137 00:08:23,750 --> 00:08:27,299 NEIL PORTEOUS: It is. Yeah. In 1920 Edith suddenly found in the 138 00:08:27,309 --> 00:08:32,369 summer that she was pregnant age 41. And so this fifth and last 139 00:08:32,380 --> 00:08:36,010 child was very special to her because she just really moved to 140 00:08:36,020 --> 00:08:39,590 Mount Stewart and invested in Mount Stewart making it her 141 00:08:39,599 --> 00:08:40,890 principal home. 142 00:08:41,119 --> 00:08:45,260 So this was a real gift, you know, to have a young child. It 143 00:08:45,270 --> 00:08:48,260 was also a slight reconciliation. She'd managed to 144 00:08:48,270 --> 00:08:52,260 get her husband Charlie away from his mistress in London and 145 00:08:52,270 --> 00:08:53,650 it was a great triumph. 146 00:08:55,679 --> 00:09:00,070 But on top of that, there's a- sort of Tudor Rose, a stylized 147 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:04,770 Tudor Rose in the shape of the five tear shaped beds. Edith was 148 00:09:04,780 --> 00:09:07,890 a suffragist. She believed that women should have the vote and a 149 00:09:07,900 --> 00:09:09,909 job and a career just like a man. 150 00:09:09,909 --> 00:09:14,150 By January 1915. You did realize that the war, World War One, 151 00:09:14,159 --> 00:09:16,840 this is, wouldn't be over by Christmas. So it sort of 152 00:09:16,849 --> 00:09:17,909 galvanized her. 153 00:09:17,919 --> 00:09:20,659 And in early January, she started the Women's Legion, 154 00:09:20,669 --> 00:09:23,609 which for the first time, initially got women working on 155 00:09:23,619 --> 00:09:26,619 the land. But very soon after that women were allowed into the 156 00:09:26,630 --> 00:09:30,460 armed services working in the obvious things of those- in 157 00:09:30,469 --> 00:09:33,020 those days, things like the catering corps, the nursing 158 00:09:33,030 --> 00:09:38,119 corps. But soon women were doing a wide range of roles that men 159 00:09:38,130 --> 00:09:42,000 had previously done to allow men to get off to the front. 160 00:09:42,460 --> 00:09:46,109 So by the end of World War One, it's estimated about 80% of the 161 00:09:46,119 --> 00:09:49,510 work in Britain was being done by women that men had done 162 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,479 previously. And the Women's Legion was just one of many 163 00:09:52,489 --> 00:09:56,900 organizations that used the crisis to sort of get women into 164 00:09:56,909 --> 00:10:00,880 the workplace. And of course, by 1920 women over the age of 30 165 00:10:00,890 --> 00:10:03,390 were given the vote for the first time. So she felt very 166 00:10:03,489 --> 00:10:05,440 proud that she'd pushed things along. 167 00:10:08,409 --> 00:10:12,010 But isn't it lovely that you've got Lady Mairi, Edith's last 168 00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:15,169 youngest daughter sitting in the middle of the emblem of the 169 00:10:15,179 --> 00:10:18,669 Women's Legion, sort of hope for the future really. So it's a 170 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,080 very optimistic garden. 171 00:10:23,630 --> 00:10:29,169 We try and use lozenges of blue, roughly blue and purple and 172 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:33,250 white, maybe with a bit of pink, not too fussy and allow it to 173 00:10:33,260 --> 00:10:37,030 luxuriate. And as you can see that it does become a bit chunky 174 00:10:37,039 --> 00:10:40,309 towards the end of the season. And what we'll do- because the 175 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,020 soil is so poor every five years, we have to take it out 176 00:10:43,030 --> 00:10:43,929 and start again. 177 00:10:43,940 --> 00:10:47,479 We use chaos to give us changes each year, you know, but when 178 00:10:47,489 --> 00:10:51,890 things come and go, we just sort of, basically plant it with us 179 00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:55,270 by the seat of our pants with new things and it looks like 180 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,590 we've done something new. 181 00:10:57,090 --> 00:11:00,440 But this gives you this constant innovation. Edith was somebody 182 00:11:00,450 --> 00:11:04,109 who never went back to an idea once she'd put it in once. So it 183 00:11:04,119 --> 00:11:07,460 gives that impression that we're kind of gardening it the way she 184 00:11:07,469 --> 00:11:07,750 did. 185 00:11:08,719 --> 00:11:12,349 ALAN POWER: I grew up with a superstitious mother from Bandon 186 00:11:12,359 --> 00:11:15,690 in Cork and I know that Edith was quite superstitious as well 187 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:17,760 and believed that there were certain things in the garden 188 00:11:17,770 --> 00:11:19,419 here that helped or hindered. 189 00:11:20,150 --> 00:11:23,179 NEIL PORTEOUS: Yeah. I mean she wrote at times that she thought 190 00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:27,380 it was the Seelie, the fairies that were helping the plants to 191 00:11:27,390 --> 00:11:30,820 grow here at Mount Stewart and by not cutting down the lovely 192 00:11:30,830 --> 00:11:35,070 hawthorns, the fairy trees and the domain this had sort of, you 193 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:38,549 know, kept things growing and I don't think she really believed 194 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,159 it 100% but it, it was a lovely thing to write, very romantic 195 00:11:42,169 --> 00:11:42,539 thing. 196 00:11:42,950 --> 00:11:46,049 And then, you know, Mairi herself as a young child is 197 00:11:46,190 --> 00:11:48,820 almost sort of Elf like. 198 00:11:48,820 --> 00:11:53,440 Elfin child. So maybe, you know, on some level, she probably 199 00:11:53,450 --> 00:12:00,820 thought that Mairi was a gift from the garden. 200 00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:04,359 ALAN POWER: Neil, We're standing on the Dodo terrace and correct 201 00:12:04,369 --> 00:12:08,880 me if I'm wrong. But 1915 was the year that Edith Lady 202 00:12:08,890 --> 00:12:12,289 Londonderry was involved in founding the Ark club. What was 203 00:12:12,299 --> 00:12:12,960 that all about? 204 00:12:13,049 --> 00:12:17,419 NEIL PORTEOUS: Yeah, that was in, Jan- End of January 1915 and 205 00:12:17,429 --> 00:12:21,349 she used the attics of their park lane house, Londonderry 206 00:12:21,510 --> 00:12:26,159 house as a meeting place for the honourable Order Of The Rainbow. 207 00:12:26,169 --> 00:12:30,090 The idea of it was to raise morale in their coterie of 208 00:12:30,099 --> 00:12:31,510 political friends. 209 00:12:31,770 --> 00:12:36,880 Basically, there was good food, good drink, singing, dancing, 210 00:12:37,210 --> 00:12:44,159 you know, poetry, just a laugh really to raise morale. 211 00:12:44,159 --> 00:12:47,330 And people were invited to join, they had to take on a rhyming 212 00:12:47,340 --> 00:12:48,270 appellation. 213 00:12:48,580 --> 00:12:52,169 So sort of a really famous people like Winston Churchill 214 00:12:52,179 --> 00:12:55,380 were "Winnie The Warlock" or Neville Chamberlain, "Neville, 215 00:12:55,390 --> 00:12:58,159 the Devil", Nancy Astor, "Nancy The Gnat" 216 00:12:58,530 --> 00:13:01,659 Charlie who was never very faithful to Edith, he was " 217 00:13:01,659 --> 00:13:05,500 Charlie the cheater" over there. And so, you know, it's kind of a 218 00:13:05,510 --> 00:13:08,640 bit of fun and her own name in the Ark club was Cersei the 219 00:13:08,650 --> 00:13:10,960 sorceress, this rather naughty goddess. 220 00:13:12,750 --> 00:13:14,909 ALAN POWER: Just at the top of the steps on the Dodo Terrace. 221 00:13:14,919 --> 00:13:17,900 There is, there is an ark with a couple of rabbits either side 222 00:13:17,909 --> 00:13:21,289 and then it's fantastic where we're standing silhouettes of 223 00:13:21,299 --> 00:13:22,640 what looked like dodos. 224 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,450 NEIL PORTEOUS: Well, the dodos are a bit of fun really. For 225 00:13:26,460 --> 00:13:29,909 Edith's father, Lord Chaplin, who wasn't it fair to say the 226 00:13:29,919 --> 00:13:32,109 most dynamic MP in the world. 227 00:13:32,119 --> 00:13:37,390 So he was satirized as a dodo in 1903 by the Westminster Gazette. 228 00:13:37,849 --> 00:13:41,099 And so she's just poking fun at her father by putting the dodos 229 00:13:41,109 --> 00:13:43,140 on top it in joke. Really? 230 00:13:51,669 --> 00:13:54,369 ALAN POWER: Now, from weird and wonderful animals to plant 231 00:13:54,380 --> 00:13:58,789 preservation that Mount Stewart plant propagator Alan Ryder is 232 00:13:58,799 --> 00:14:01,929 working hard to preserve some of the amazing plants here. 233 00:14:04,789 --> 00:14:08,359 So we're standing in the middle of one of the propagation units 234 00:14:08,369 --> 00:14:11,330 in the nursery at Mount Stewart Alan is standing across from me 235 00:14:11,549 --> 00:14:14,030 and we're under this multicoloured light. It's almost 236 00:14:14,039 --> 00:14:16,599 like we're at a disco and the lights are whirring away in the 237 00:14:16,609 --> 00:14:18,250 background. Alan, what's going on? 238 00:14:18,929 --> 00:14:21,099 ALAN RYDER: Well, we're just supplementing the light levels 239 00:14:21,109 --> 00:14:25,030 in here and this light you're looking at here is multi 240 00:14:25,039 --> 00:14:27,700 spectrum. So it's- it's assisting the growth where the 241 00:14:27,710 --> 00:14:29,270 light levels are a little poor. 242 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,289 ALAN POWER: There's all sorts of weird and wonderful things 243 00:14:32,299 --> 00:14:35,289 growing in here. You must have to apply some very strange 244 00:14:35,299 --> 00:14:39,289 propagation techniques and kind of encouragement for the plants 245 00:14:39,299 --> 00:14:41,659 and the seeds to take. What's the weirdest thing you've had to 246 00:14:41,669 --> 00:14:42,539 do recently? 247 00:14:43,210 --> 00:14:45,859 ALAN RYDER: Well, we've grown a lot of plants from South Africa 248 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,200 and to grow that we- we're having to replicate where the 249 00:14:50,210 --> 00:14:55,880 plant would grow and plants in that area generally will- the 250 00:14:55,890 --> 00:15:00,140 dormancy, the inhibitors in the seed is broken by smoke. So the 251 00:15:00,150 --> 00:15:05,150 result of a, of a bushfire and the seed becomes viable as a 252 00:15:05,159 --> 00:15:05,820 result. 253 00:15:06,049 --> 00:15:09,489 So, what we're doing is we're doing what they call smoke 254 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:13,460 propagation. And we set up a little tin can and a little 255 00:15:13,469 --> 00:15:18,190 metal dish and we bubble smoke through some water to get the 256 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,380 essence of the smoke in the water. And then use that as a 257 00:15:21,390 --> 00:15:24,710 pre soak for the seed and that is breaking the inhibitors in 258 00:15:24,719 --> 00:15:25,280 the seed. 259 00:15:25,969 --> 00:15:28,820 And I think that's probably the weirdest thing. 260 00:15:29,270 --> 00:15:32,809 So really, it proves that, you know, propagation is all smoke 261 00:15:32,820 --> 00:15:33,650 and mirrors, you know, 262 00:15:36,690 --> 00:15:39,349 I mean, I'm standing here and I'm quite envious at some of the 263 00:15:39,359 --> 00:15:41,849 kit that you've got, you know, apart from these beautiful 264 00:15:41,859 --> 00:15:45,260 lights and the amount of greenhouses and polytunnels that 265 00:15:45,270 --> 00:15:46,490 you've got. 266 00:15:46,490 --> 00:15:49,859 We're inventive and the lights that are whirling away in the 267 00:15:49,869 --> 00:15:54,130 background we got from the local police department, they were 268 00:15:54,140 --> 00:15:57,919 confiscated, shall we say from a local grower who was growing 269 00:15:57,929 --> 00:15:58,570 Cannabis! 270 00:15:58,979 --> 00:16:02,280 And this has been a really good source of material. The police 271 00:16:02,289 --> 00:16:05,580 are delighted about the fact that it's, it's stuff that was 272 00:16:05,590 --> 00:16:09,289 used for ill is now being used for good and it's a good- it's a 273 00:16:09,299 --> 00:16:11,130 good story for, for everybody. 274 00:16:11,140 --> 00:16:21,409 ALAN POWER: Really, this place truly is fascinating from the 275 00:16:21,419 --> 00:16:24,859 Mad Science of the nursery. I'm now searching for something a 276 00:16:24,869 --> 00:16:28,640 little wilder and a little more unusual. I'm headed through the 277 00:16:28,650 --> 00:16:32,270 garden past the lake and I'm on my way to the Temple Of The 278 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:32,900 Winds. 279 00:16:35,369 --> 00:16:39,140 I'm getting to the top of the hill here, on this quite breezy 280 00:16:39,150 --> 00:16:43,099 day and this amazing view of the lough is slowly unfolding in 281 00:16:43,109 --> 00:16:43,820 front of me. 282 00:16:45,380 --> 00:16:48,299 I know exactly what's at the top of this hill and it's the Temple 283 00:16:48,309 --> 00:16:50,799 Of The Winds, a beautiful, beautiful feature. 284 00:16:51,869 --> 00:16:54,219 But I'm hoping Andrew Upton is going to be there and he's the 285 00:16:54,229 --> 00:16:58,739 coast and countryside manager of this fantastic place. And how 286 00:16:58,750 --> 00:17:02,250 appropriate to be meeting Andrew at the Temple Of The Winds on 287 00:17:02,260 --> 00:17:03,239 such a windy day. 288 00:17:05,389 --> 00:17:06,499 Hi, Andrew, how are you doing? 289 00:17:06,509 --> 00:17:07,928 ANDREW UPTON: Hi, Alan. All the best. 290 00:17:08,068 --> 00:17:10,399 ALAN POWER: It's a bit breezy up here today. Why, why are we up 291 00:17:10,409 --> 00:17:10,779 here? 292 00:17:10,788 --> 00:17:13,788 ANDREW UPTON: And this is a very prominent location. So from 293 00:17:13,798 --> 00:17:17,048 here, you can see vast ways of Strangford Lough. Strangford 294 00:17:17,058 --> 00:17:21,279 Lough is internationally important for wildlife. And at 295 00:17:21,288 --> 00:17:23,588 any time of the year, there's always something important to 296 00:17:23,598 --> 00:17:24,279 see out there. 297 00:17:24,288 --> 00:17:27,068 So during the winter, as you mentioned, you've got the Light 298 00:17:27,078 --> 00:17:30,930 Bellied Brent Geese which breed in Arctic Canada, they then 299 00:17:30,939 --> 00:17:34,400 migrate through Greenland, through Iceland and then in 300 00:17:34,410 --> 00:17:38,219 September, October, they arrive on Mass On Strangford Lough and 301 00:17:38,229 --> 00:17:42,349 we can have up to 90% of the global population on Strangford 302 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:43,000 Lough. 303 00:17:43,109 --> 00:17:46,849 And most years you're talking about 25,000 birds. But some 304 00:17:46,859 --> 00:17:50,680 years we can have as many as 38,000 birds. And it really is 305 00:17:50,689 --> 00:17:53,339 one of the wildlife spectaculars, in Northern 306 00:17:53,349 --> 00:17:53,780 Ireland. 307 00:17:53,989 --> 00:17:57,630 ALAN POWER: And your job, yourself and your team staff and 308 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:00,339 volunteers. It, it's part of your job to look after their 309 00:18:00,349 --> 00:18:01,300 habitat, isn't it? 310 00:18:01,630 --> 00:18:04,150 ANDREW UPTON: Yeah. Our job is twofold. 311 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,739 One is to actually manage the habitats these birds either feed 312 00:18:07,750 --> 00:18:12,280 or breed in, but it's also to monitor their numbers. 313 00:18:12,339 --> 00:18:15,339 And only by doing that will we know whether the species are 314 00:18:15,349 --> 00:18:19,630 doing well, whether they're struggling and then we can adapt 315 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,900 the management to hopefully bring the numbers back up 316 00:18:23,189 --> 00:18:27,449 To really appreciate and get into all the nooks and crannies 317 00:18:27,459 --> 00:18:28,589 of Strangford Lough. 318 00:18:28,790 --> 00:18:32,890 You really need a boat. And I'm very fortunate in one of my past 319 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:37,130 time is kayaking and I get out, I really appreciate Strangford 320 00:18:37,140 --> 00:18:42,069 Lough. We have a canoe trail on Strangford Lough which members 321 00:18:42,079 --> 00:18:44,680 of the public can really come and enjoy. There's various 322 00:18:44,689 --> 00:18:46,849 launch points around the lough. 323 00:18:46,859 --> 00:18:49,699 ALAN POWER: Do you have one outstanding memory or a few that 324 00:18:50,069 --> 00:18:52,079 when you've been out in your kayak on your own that you 325 00:18:52,089 --> 00:18:54,589 always reflect on and think that was a great day or a great 326 00:18:54,599 --> 00:18:55,130 moment? 327 00:18:55,310 --> 00:18:58,089 ANDREW UPTON: Yeah, I mean, what- one that stands out is 328 00:18:58,099 --> 00:19:03,010 seeing the Harbour Porpoises just breaching very close to the 329 00:19:03,020 --> 00:19:03,630 boat. 330 00:19:04,109 --> 00:19:07,170 ALAN POWER: Andrew. I've never seen a harbour Porpoise. You 331 00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:09,430 know, it must have been a real treat. Can you, can you describe 332 00:19:09,439 --> 00:19:10,903 to me what they look like? 333 00:19:10,903 --> 00:19:14,530 ANDREW UPTON: Porpoises are part of the wider Cetacean family. 334 00:19:14,540 --> 00:19:18,869 And that includes whales and dolphins. So porpoises are 335 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,369 related to all those creatures. They're quite small. I mean, 336 00:19:21,380 --> 00:19:25,209 they're about the size of a seal and they've got very triangular 337 00:19:25,219 --> 00:19:25,810 fins. 338 00:19:25,819 --> 00:19:30,349 So they're very common around the British Isles in sort of in 339 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,530 short waters. So if you go to any parts of the coast, you're 340 00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:37,719 likely to see porpoises, but they only come out of the water 341 00:19:37,729 --> 00:19:38,890 very briefly. 342 00:19:38,969 --> 00:19:42,920 So all you'll really see is sort of a dark grey creature with 343 00:19:42,930 --> 00:19:44,780 this sort of small triangular fin. 344 00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:49,849 One of the most important features of Strangford Lough is 345 00:19:49,859 --> 00:19:53,810 the islands. And we have to graze those. 346 00:19:53,819 --> 00:19:56,589 If we don't graze them, they'll turn to woodland eventually. And 347 00:19:56,599 --> 00:20:00,390 this unique landscape that we have will quickly disappear. All 348 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,780 the habitats and species that rely on those islands will 349 00:20:03,790 --> 00:20:04,449 vanish. 350 00:20:04,459 --> 00:20:07,489 What we've tried to do on Strangford is to actually learn 351 00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:13,229 from the people who manage the lough. So the people who live 352 00:20:13,239 --> 00:20:15,820 and the communities that are around the lough. 353 00:20:15,820 --> 00:20:18,859 There's so much to learn from them. They've been here for 354 00:20:18,869 --> 00:20:22,400 centuries. One of the things we've been doing, particularly 355 00:20:22,410 --> 00:20:26,369 with some of the people who are getting on is to actually do an 356 00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:29,750 oral history project to capture some of those stories and those 357 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:30,449 traditions. 358 00:20:30,459 --> 00:20:34,189 So, there's like- some of the people here would have, remember 359 00:20:34,199 --> 00:20:37,189 the days when they used to swim cattle out to the islands to 360 00:20:37,199 --> 00:20:40,729 graze. Nowadays, the National Trust has a boat which we 361 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,119 transport animals out to the islands. 362 00:20:43,130 --> 00:20:47,280 But in those days, it was done much more sort of basic but- and 363 00:20:47,290 --> 00:20:49,930 the whole community would have come out to help. 364 00:20:49,939 --> 00:20:54,010 So it was fantastic. You know, people remember sort of grannies 365 00:20:54,020 --> 00:20:58,410 coming out, children, everyone helped with this activity and we 366 00:20:58,420 --> 00:21:01,199 sort of lost that. But what we need to do is just capture some 367 00:21:01,209 --> 00:21:02,349 of those stories. 368 00:21:08,410 --> 00:21:11,380 ALAN POWER: We're coming to the end of the day now. But the 369 00:21:11,390 --> 00:21:15,040 warmth and charm of the fabulous Mount Stewart house is beckoning 370 00:21:15,050 --> 00:21:15,790 me inside. 371 00:21:18,209 --> 00:21:21,540 So I'm off now to meet John Kerr, who's the property manager 372 00:21:21,550 --> 00:21:24,750 at Mount Stewart and has seen the property through this 373 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:25,550 restoration. 374 00:21:28,810 --> 00:21:32,660 It's amazing to see what has been achieved in the house here. 375 00:21:32,670 --> 00:21:36,310 You know, I saw it 15 years ago, pre restoration and it's, it's a 376 00:21:36,319 --> 00:21:37,020 real treat. 377 00:21:37,030 --> 00:21:39,170 JOHN KERR: When I first started here at Mount Stewart, the house 378 00:21:39,180 --> 00:21:43,430 was in a very sad condition. It felt like it felt it was like 379 00:21:43,439 --> 00:21:46,030 the ghost of something once great. And I think what we have 380 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,750 really captured now is the spirit of Lady Edith. 381 00:21:50,949 --> 00:21:55,089 What we set out to do was actually create a house that she 382 00:21:55,099 --> 00:22:00,010 would recognize if she were restored to full health and came 383 00:22:00,219 --> 00:22:01,380 back to Mount Stewart. 384 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:03,489 She would feel absolutely at home. And I think that's what 385 00:22:03,500 --> 00:22:04,270 we've done. 386 00:22:04,270 --> 00:22:07,670 Talking of Edith. There was one room in the house that was more 387 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,050 important to Edith than any other, her sitting room. 388 00:22:10,060 --> 00:22:13,819 And there you see the two desks, the one that she had her 389 00:22:13,829 --> 00:22:16,969 official correspondence sort of created on and the desk that she 390 00:22:16,979 --> 00:22:19,750 created all of her plans for the grounds of Mount Stewart. So if 391 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:20,569 you want to come with me. 392 00:22:29,540 --> 00:22:33,400 This is Lady Londonderry's sitting room. This was her inner 393 00:22:33,410 --> 00:22:36,780 sanctum and this is where all the most important things to her 394 00:22:36,790 --> 00:22:37,510 actually are right? 395 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,209 So on the wall, you see her youngest daughter, Lady Mairi 396 00:22:40,670 --> 00:22:43,560 and around her, the books that she drew inspiration for the 397 00:22:43,569 --> 00:22:44,920 amazing gardens at Mount Stewart. 398 00:22:45,569 --> 00:22:47,739 Her desk is just sitting in front of us and you can see 399 00:22:47,750 --> 00:22:51,260 family portraits, you can see little toys that the children 400 00:22:51,270 --> 00:22:54,939 have bought her as presents and you can see her diary and here 401 00:22:54,949 --> 00:22:57,800 in this little basket, just to the right hand side, you can see 402 00:22:57,810 --> 00:23:00,790 her garden diaries and this is where she collected her 403 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,300 inspirations and then created her, her amazing sort of 404 00:23:04,310 --> 00:23:07,670 watercolours and plans for what the garden was going to be. 405 00:23:08,380 --> 00:23:10,589 ALAN POWER: You can really get a sense of what she was like just 406 00:23:10,599 --> 00:23:13,709 from the way everything's displayed, you know, hundreds 407 00:23:13,719 --> 00:23:16,250 and hundreds of little journals and books tied together with 408 00:23:16,260 --> 00:23:19,819 ribbon organized and their shoes and walking sticks. 409 00:23:19,829 --> 00:23:23,300 And the most important thing in this room, I think for me, John 410 00:23:23,310 --> 00:23:25,239 is the fact that she can see the garden. 411 00:23:25,239 --> 00:23:28,449 JOHN KERR: Absolutely. And when she was here, every window would 412 00:23:28,459 --> 00:23:32,020 have been wide open. The other side of each of these wonderful 413 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:34,959 windows in this amazing bay which looks out onto the Italian 414 00:23:34,969 --> 00:23:38,930 Garden. There are little stone steps and this, she talks about 415 00:23:38,939 --> 00:23:41,969 the garden rooms and what she meant is that this is not the 416 00:23:41,979 --> 00:23:42,589 end of the house. 417 00:23:42,599 --> 00:23:45,329 The house continues out into the garden and vice versa. Actually, 418 00:23:45,339 --> 00:23:49,390 there is- they are inseparable to her. It was all just one part 419 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,810 of this magical Island of Mount Stewart that she created. 420 00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:57,800 ALAN POWER: John. I'm gonna ask you a big question now because I 421 00:23:57,810 --> 00:24:01,030 know how sensitive these environments are. Do you mind if 422 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,599 I just sit at Lady Edith's desk for a minute? 423 00:24:03,609 --> 00:24:05,310 JOHN KERR: We've just had it restored. So it should be in 424 00:24:05,319 --> 00:24:07,969 good enough condition for you to sit in it. Absolutely. Be my 425 00:24:07,979 --> 00:24:08,359 guest. 426 00:24:12,349 --> 00:24:15,650 ALAN POWER: I'm sitting in a little bit of silence, but it's 427 00:24:15,660 --> 00:24:19,719 quite, it's quite moving because I am surrounded by her personal 428 00:24:19,729 --> 00:24:22,939 artifacts. You know, I've been through her garden this morning, 429 00:24:22,949 --> 00:24:25,000 walks through the family home. 430 00:24:25,510 --> 00:24:27,829 I suppose the real thing that makes me tingle is the fact that 431 00:24:27,839 --> 00:24:30,959 her handwriting is right in front of me. And to have that 432 00:24:30,969 --> 00:24:34,260 kind of real tangible link to the woman who created this 433 00:24:34,270 --> 00:24:38,209 magnificent place is really, really moving. 434 00:24:44,310 --> 00:24:48,119 I wish I had longer here. But unfortunately, that's it for me 435 00:24:48,130 --> 00:24:51,250 this season of the National Trust podcast, the next three 436 00:24:51,260 --> 00:24:54,839 main episodes will be about National Trust Walks and these 437 00:24:54,849 --> 00:24:57,660 will be presented by Kate Martin, one of our west coast 438 00:24:57,670 --> 00:24:58,239 rangers. 439 00:24:59,550 --> 00:25:02,270 I've really enjoyed taking you with me on my tour of some of 440 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,689 the National Trust most beautiful Gardens and can't wait 441 00:25:04,699 --> 00:25:06,569 to do it again in season three. 442 00:25:07,729 --> 00:25:10,430 But for more information about Mount Stewart, you can visit 443 00:25:10,439 --> 00:25:15,642 their website at nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stew- 444 00:25:15,642 --> 00:25:16,180 art. 445 00:25:19,479 --> 00:25:22,439 For our next full episode, Kate will be in Kinder scout in the 446 00:25:22,449 --> 00:25:26,050 peak district. That episode will be available in a couple of 447 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:29,339 weeks, but don't worry, there will be a mini episode available 448 00:25:29,349 --> 00:25:29,979 next week. 449 00:25:30,189 --> 00:25:33,790 We'll be exploring the power, poisons and pleasures of the 450 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,900 colour purple through the incredible flowers at Mount 451 00:25:36,910 --> 00:25:38,359 Stewart. 452 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:41,520 To make sure you never miss another episode, subscribe on 453 00:25:41,530 --> 00:25:45,719 iTunes or your chosen podcast app and please do let us know 454 00:25:45,729 --> 00:25:48,979 what you thought of this episode or share your suggestions for 455 00:25:48,989 --> 00:25:52,020 future episodes on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 456 00:25:52,239 --> 00:25:57,900 You can also email us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk. 457 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,369 So for me, Alan Power, until next season, it's goodbye.