Boughton Estate has commenced work to recreate one of England’s finest avenues of trees - the Broad Walk Lime Tree Avenue at Boughton House.
The historic avenue, which lies to the west of the House and Broad Water Lake, was originally planted around 1705 with a combination of English elm and ‘Hatfield Tall’ Lime trees. Hatfield Tall Limes are a distinct type of lime tree commonly used in 17th and 18th century planned gardens.
Many of the elms were lost in the 1920s and 1970s during outbreaks of Dutch Elm Disease, whilst only one original lime tree remains. Now, working in conjunction with Natural England, Boughton Estate plans to replant the avenue with Hatfield Tall Limes.
At present, the avenue comprises two original elm trees and one lime, whilst the rest are hybrid poplars and small-leaf lime trees, so the first step will be to remove around two dozen poplars and take out their stumps in readiness for planting with Hatfield Tall Limes at the beginning of 2017. The existing smallleaved limes will be retained for a few years to reduce any visual impact, before they too are replaced with original limes.
The ambitious proposals are part of a ten year management plan agreed with Natural England in 2012.
The growing of the replacement Hatfield Tall Limes began back in 2008, using clones from the original lime tree, and the replanting will continue right through to 2024. This programme involves removing a number of mature trees; however, these are largely fast-growing poplars which have a limited lifespan. Boughton House is registered Grade I on English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historical Interest. The restoration of the parkland to its 17th century formal landscape was commenced in 2004 and since this time a number of important features have been completed, including:
• De-silting and restoration of the Great Court Canal • Formalising the edges of the Broad Water Canal and adjoining sections • Restoration of the Mound • Creation of Orpheus • Creation of a lime tree nursery • The restoration of the Grand Etang Lake
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