LE CLOS D’HASTINGS
© Stéphane Marie
NORMANDY MEDIEVAL GARDEN
RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW 2016
2016 marks the 950th anniversary of the Norman invasion. Born in Falaise, William, Duke
of Normandy, became the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the story of which
is told in the unique Bayeux Tapestry. To mark this occasion, the Parks and Gardens of
Normandy and Hastings & 1066 Country are exhibiting a medieval-themed Norman garden,
Le Clos d’Hastings, at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which celebrates
the exceptionally strong links forged between England and Normandy. Taking place from
Tuesday 5 July to Sunday 10 July with a press day on Monday 4 July, Le Clos d’Hastings
Medieval Garden will be showcased on stand HC/718 in the competitors’ category.
Le Clos d’Hastings Medieval Garden features the following:
Plants: euchryphia, stewartia, barley, phacelia, flax,
daisies, cornflower, wild sorrel (a dream), wild carrot,
blue fescue, astelia chatamica, lavender, agapanthus,
acanthus,
delphinium,
molinia,
stipa
gigantean
Fran Lambert
UK & Ireland Press Officer
for Normandy
T: +44 (0) 207 061 6637
M: +44 (0) 7801 922 183
E: [email protected]
W: www.normandy-tourism.org
@NormandyPRUK
facebook.com/normandy.tourism
(giant
feather
grass),
roses,
purple
phormium
tenax,
melianthus
major,
stunning
hydrangea
macrophylla
merveille
sanguine.
Trees: field maple, beech, salix, hazelnut trees.
Regional press contacts
in Normandy:
Armelle Le Goff
Press Relations Manager
Calvados Tourist Board
E: [email protected]
W: www.calvados-tourisme.co.uk
Stand number: HC/718
Cheese provided by:
Fromagerie Beillevaire UK
www.fromagerie-beillevaire.com/en
#Normandy
#RHSHampton
What you’ll see on the Normandy stand
THE GARDEN
The idea behind Le Clos d’Hastings was to re-create a landscape common to both Normandy
and England. Hedges were built up on steep banks and traditionally planted with bushes and low
trees that were then trained to form a fence of interwoven branches. These hedgerows were also
planted with larger trees to create a linear forest that typifies Normandy’s bocage landscapes.
Le Clos d’Hastings Medieval Garden is divided into two sections. The first section evokes
the ancestral meadows on both sides of the Channel. Barley grows alongside flax (the
plant that provided the material on which the Bayeux Tapestry was embroidered), daisies
and meadow flowers. The second section features a densely planted area designed like
a Baroque tapestry and plants from across the globe that the English and Normans, with
their shared passion for gardening and botany, have enjoyed exchanging for centuries.
THE DESIGNER:
STÉPHANE MARIE
THE CREATOR:
ALEXANDRE THOMAS
http://bit.ly/JardinMaubrairie
www.jardin-agapanthe.fr
Alexandre Thomas, also from Normandy,
is a landscape gardener and creator of
the Agapanthe Garden – a garden that he
began working on at the age of ten at his
parents’ estate. Over time, the landmark
gardens located just north of Rouen, have
grown in size, opened to the public and
today welcome visitors into a perfectly tamed
jungle of light, colour, peace and tranquillity.
© Carole Desheulles
© G. Le Scanff
Normandy native Stéphane Marie, is a gardener
and the presenter of popular French TV show
Silence, ça pousse. As well as becoming a
French gardening TV celebrity, Stéphane has
also developed his own beautiful garden, Jardin
de la Maubrairie on the Cotentin peninsula.
Among Stéphane’s reasons for designing this
year’s garden are his strong ties with both
Normandy and Hastings & 1066 Country.
© Normandy Tourist Board
SCULPTING BY JEAN-MARC DE PAS OF LE JARDIN DES SCULPTURES,
BOIS GUILBERT
Jean-Marc will be on the Normandy stand creating sculptures of William
the Conqueror from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 July. When Jean-Marc de Pas
inherited his 17th century family estate at the age of 21, he searched for a way
to combine his passion for sculpture with the task then bestowed upon him:
maintaining the chateau grounds. Jean-Marc transformed three hectares of
grazing land into an idyllic sculpture garden where 70 of his works punctuate
the landscape, giving visitors a garden where art blends with nature.
www.lejardindessculptures.com
Chantal will be on the Normandy stand creating scenes from
the Bayeux Tapestry from Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 July.
Bayeux Broderie is a professional embroidery workshop
and boutique in Bayeux, run by Chantal James. Chantal
has specialised for many years in the Bayeux stitch, the
technique used in the 11th century to create the 70m long
UNESCO-listed Bayeux Tapestry. Chantal is passionate
about the rich heritage of the Bayeux stitch and enjoys
sharing this ancient tradition by teaching embroidery
courses and selling embroideries and embroidery kits.
www.bayeux-broderie.com
TASTINGS WITH THE NORMANDY TOURIST BOARD
© Julien Tack
EMBROIDERY BY CHANTAL JAMES OF
BAYEUX BRODERIE
Ahead of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the Normandy Tourist Board
will be holding tasting sessions on Monday 4 July (press day). Sample some Norman
specialities and find out about the medieval merriment taking place throughout Normandy
this summer, including street markets, festivals, sound and light shows and exhibitions in the
towns and villages associated with William the Conqueror and his momentous expedition!
The Normandy Tourist Board team looks forward to meeting you on our stand HC/718.
Medieval Normandy, birthplace of William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror, one of the most brilliant warriors of all time,
stands at the crossroads of Anglo-French history. As a result, Normandy
has
always
been
a
popular
destination
to
visit
medieval
landmarks.
Normandy was founded in 911 when Charles the Simple, King of the Francs,
was forced to hand over the lands of Neustria to the Viking chief Rollo. Just a few
decades later, these Vikings would become Norman and govern this vast territory,
which was inherited by William, Duke of Normandy and soon-to-be king of England.
On 14 October 1066, William won the Battle of
Hastings against the troops of Harold Godwinson,
whom he replaced upon the throne of England.
There followed a 21-year reign during which he
greatly influenced both England and Normandy.
© Ville de Bayeux
950 years after the Battle of Hastings and the
coronation of William I, as told in the Bayeux
Tapestry, Normandy celebrates this epic saga, and
until December 2016, is stepping back in time as
medieval festivities take place across the region.
There is no better time to discover Normandy’s
medieval treasures – from William the Conqueror
to Richard the Lionheart and Joan of Arc –
all of whom left a lasting legacy to the region.
www.medieval-normandy.co.uk
Some of Normandy’s best-known medieval sites
THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY
© Ville de Bayeux
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
Bayeux Tapestry was produced during
the 11th century and tells the story of the
Norman Conquest of England. Around
70m long and 50cm high, this exceptionally
ambitious piece of craftsmanship was most
likely ordered by William the Conqueror’s
half-brother, Bishop Odo of Bayeux.
© Calvados Tourist Board
FALAISE CASTLE
Born in Falaise in 1027, William accomplished
his very first feat of arms within this castle when
he was fifteen years old. His victory was the
first act to seal his power over Normandy and
his epic adventure was to guide his path as
far as England, where he was crowned king.
© Calvados Tourist Board
CAEN
It was due in large part to William the
Conqueror that Caen grew into a great city.
William and his wife, Matilda of Flanders,
each ordered a grand abbey, the Abbaye aux
Hommes and the Abbaye aux Dames, both
hugely impressive places to this day. Between
them lies Caen Castle, which in its day was
one of the greatest strongholds in Normandy.
ROUEN
© Jonathan – Fotolia.com
English medieval history is closely linked to
Rouen, and William the Conqueror often
held court here. Richard the Lionheart was
crowned Duke of Normandy in the city and
left his heart to it, as would Joan of Arc,
against her will, when English forces occupied
Normandy. After success in battle against
the English, Joan was captured and tried,
and met her tragic demise in Rouen in 1431.
© L. Belither
JUMIÈGES ABBEY
The ruins of Jumièges Abbey are but a
reminder of its former greatness. Set in
a meander in the River Seine, Jumièges
Abbey was a great centre of learning in the
Middle Ages, and William the Conqueror
came as both Duke of Normandy and the
new King of England to the consecration
of Jumièges Abbey’s church in 1067.
CHÂTEAU-GAILLARD,
LES ANDELYS
© Jérémie Eloy – Wanaiifilms.com
© Andrea Soelter
Built between 1196 and 1198 by Richard
the Lionheart to protect the River Seine
and the city of Rouen from the ambitions of
the King of France, Château-Gaillard was
typical of medieval military architecture. The
castle commands stunning panoramic views
over the picturesque town of Les Andelys.
THE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL
The breath-taking island of Mont-Saint-Michel
can be seen for miles around. Legend has it
that in the 8th century, the Archangel Michael
pressured a local bishop into having a church
built atop the mount. A major pilgrimage
site for centuries, the Mont-Saint-Michel
is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A selection of medieval gardens in Normandy
FOR MEDIEVAL MAJESTY:
JARDIN DE L’ABBAYE DE SAINT-GEORGESDE-BOSCHERVILLE
The gardens of this fine 12th century Benedictine abbey
were redesigned just over 20 years ago to look exactly as
they did when the monks created them in 1683! Spanning
10 acres, the French style gardens feature terraces and
a majestic central avenue leading to a stairway from
which you can admire fine views over the Seine valley.
www.abbaye-saint-georges.com
© ATAR Abbaye Saint-Georges
Normandy’s lush landscape lends itself perfectly to the art of gardening. Meet the people behind
the following gardens on stand HC/718 at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2016.
© Shamrock Collection
FOR CONTEMPORARY GARDEN LOVERS:
SHAMROCK COLLECTION
The world-renowned Shamrock Collection contains
a number of rare Japanese hydrangeas that are the
only ones of their kind in the West. Boasting 2,000
plants and 1,200 different plant varieties collected over
a century by horticulturists, the collection consists
of a maze organised by country and region, and the
Dragon Wood, where exotic Asian plant varieties thrive.
www.hortensias-hydrangea.com
Set against the impressive backdrop of the Château
de Miromesnil, this potager is a fine example of the
traditional kitchen garden. Within its 17th century walls,
grassy paths flanked by mixed borders separate
neat rows of flowers, fruit and vegetables, combining
traditional gardening and artistic use of colour.
www.chateaumiromesnil.com
© Vudoiseau
GOING BACK TO NATURE:
JARDIN DE LA FERME ORNÉE, CARROUGES
© Vudoiseau
FOR THE TRADITIONALISTS:
CHÂTEAU DE MIROMESNIL PARK & GARDEN,
TOURVILLE-SUR-ARQUES
Here, bocage becomes garden, with the hedges sheltering
seven themed gardens, including an orchard boasting more
than 80 varieties of apple. Paths are lined with scented shrubs
and meadows are full of wild flowers for the delight of the farm
animals. This 17-acre garden is truly a nature-lovers’ paradise!
www.lafermeorneedecarrouges.fr
THE WIDEST RANGE OF FERRY
ROUTES TO NORMANDY!
With Brittany Ferries, customers’ holidays
begin the moment they step on board. With
a total of nine passenger ships forming one
of the most modern fleets on the Channel,
it offers elegant surroundings, stylish bars
and lounges plus superb restaurants.
Being a French company, Brittany Ferries
takes great pride in its cuisine and its highly
trained French crew deliver an awardwinning service, enabling customers to just
sit back, unwind and enjoy the experience.
FOUR MILE-SAVING ROUTES FROM THE UK DIRECT TO NORMANDY:
Portsmouth–Le Havre: year-round no-frills économie services, with daily return sailings. Le
Havre is Brittany Ferries’ closest port to Paris – it’s less than 200 kilometres using the A13
motorway. Crossing time: 5 hours 30 minutes | Frequency: one sailing a day in each direction
Portsmouth–Caen: Brittany Ferries’ most popular and frequent service operates to the heart of
Normandy. Crossing time: 6 hours | Frequency: three cruise-ferry sailings a day in each direction
Portsmouth–Cherbourg: the seasonal Portsmouth–Cherbourg service offers the speediest
crossing to France on the Western Channel. Crossing time: 3 hours | Frequency: up to
two fast craft sailings a day in each direction | Seasonal: 25 April-6 September 2016
Poole–Cherbourg: the popular Barfleur cruise-ferry now operates this route all
year round, connecting the Dorset port of Poole with Cherbourg on the tip of the Cotentin
peninsula. Crossing time: 4¼ hours | Frequency: one sailing a day in each direction
© Brittany Ferries
Book online at www.brittanyferries.com or call
+44 (0)330 159 7000. Brittany Ferries also has a
wide range of money-saving sail-and-stay offers – to
find out more, visit www.brittanyferries.com/holidays
Press travel facility: journalists planning to
feature holidays in France or Spain are welcome
to experience Brittany Ferries’ services. If
you would like to use this facility, please
contact us and we will do our best to help.
UK press contacts:
Nigel Wonnacott
Christopher Jones
T: +44 (0)23 9240 2943
M: +44 (0)7833 446 729
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)23 9240 2965
M: +44 (0)7917 540 878
E: [email protected]
Head of Communications
Communications Manager
© Hastings & 1066 Country
Hastings, battle ground of the Norman Conquest
It’s our 950th anniversary. Invade the gardens
of
1066
Country
–
but
this
time,
stop
and
smell
the
roses.
Throughout Hastings & 1066 Country,
across which William of Normandy
marched his troops, there lie many
beautiful gardens open to the public.
Don’t overlook Bateman’s, the former
home of Rudyard Kipling, or Michelham
Priory whose gardens and working mills are
delightful bonuses to these historic places.
And this year of all years, take a relaxing
stroll through the recreated Victorian walled
garden at Battle Abbey, to glimpse a lesser
known time in the abbey’s famous history.
© Hastings & 1066 Country
Great Dixter House and Gardens, Pashley
Manor Gardens, Merriments, King John’s
Nursery and the Gardens and Grounds of
Herstmonceux Castle are all fine examples
of
what
the
English
do
best.
Find out more about our gardens
here:
www.visit1066country.com/gardens
and join us to commemorate the 950th
anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in this
exciting year: www.visit1066country.com/950
Hastings & 1066 Country
press contact:
Jane Ellis
Hastings/Visit 1066 Country
T: +44 (0)1424 451 113
E: [email protected]
@Visit1066
facebook.com/1066Country
www.visit1066country.com