Stumperies: a new life for old wood
A stumpery is a garden feature similar to a rockery, but made with parts of dead trees such as stumps and logs. They were especially popular with Victorian gardeners, because they chimed with romantic ideas about the beauty of nature.
But stumperies deserve a place in today's gardens, too - they are an interesting way of using materials that might otherwise be wasted, and can provide fantastic wildlife habitat.
You can find stumperies at a number of RHS Partner Gardens.
Dalemain began its stumpery in 2010, using 200-year-old oaks that had once lined the ancient estate road.
It is being steadily developed with woodland plants and ferns in the atmospheric surroundings of Lob's Wood, a woodland garden planted with hellebores and vincas and offering views of the river and fells.
'The wonderful thing about a stumpery is that there are no fixed rules and it can take any form. It is an unusual way to use what might be considered to be waste in an artistic manner,' says owner Jane Hasell-McCosh.
Free entry for RHS members (member 1) applies Apr, June, Sept and Oct
The stumpery at Ragley Hall (called the 'Fumpary') was a perfect way of recycling old tree stumps, beautifying a dry, shady area of the garden and providing valuable wildlife habitat.
It uses reclaimed tree roots from Ragley's woodland to make a foil for shade-lovers including ferns, hellebores, erythroniums (left), trilliums, streptocarpus and spider plants; ensuring a long season of colour and texture.
The stumpery captures the philosophy of Ragley Hall, showing it is possible to create a garden that is aesthetic and wildlife-friendly at the same time.
Free entry for RHS members (member 1) applies Feb - Oct
Head toward the western edge of the garden to find Trebah's tranquil, atmospheric stumpery; a shady dell full of ferns and ancient, sculptural tree stumps (pictured above).
In 2007 a cascade was added; its waters pour down over a natural rock face and into a pool surrounded by several species of unusual Australasian tree ferns.
Free entry for RHS members (member 1) applies 1 Jan - 31 March and 1 Nov - 31 March
- Other RHS Partner Gardens with stumperies include Burnby Hall Gardens, York, where a new stumpery is being developed in a woodland glade, featuring ferns and hostas. Normanby Hall Country Park in North Lincolnshire also has a stumpery, located in the Christmas Garden. Here you'll find evergreen ferns, bulbs, hellebores and the tiny Japanese holly, Ilex crenata 'Mariesii', with leaves just 0.5cm across.
Search Garden Finder for more RHS Partner Gardens to visit