The gardens at The Bishop’s Palace have received high praise from the Royal Horticultural Society, which has made the historic building’s grounds a “Partner Garden”.
The status is awarded to gardens of “outstanding and exceptionally high standards of planting and design”, making it a real achievement for the team working under head gardener James Cross.
During his 15 years in the role, James has added formal planting in the Phelps Garden, replanted the Wells Pool area, created a Prairie Garden in the Garden of Reflection, taken inspiration from Victorian designs to redevelop the beds and borders around the Great Hall and planted a St Andrew’s Cross outside the Bishop’s Apartment, and developed a winter garden and a new garden in front of the Apple Store. James said: “It is a credit to our hard-working team and to all that we’ve achieved here to have been awarded RHS Partner Garden status and we hope that the gardens will be introduced to a wider audience of horticultural enthusiasts throughout the coming year and beyond”.