Jenny Huddart at Water Lane
Jenny Huddart has been appointed Head Gardener at Water Lane
Having previously been Head Gardener at The Small Holding in Flimwell and Sarah Raven’s garden in Perch Hill plus four years with the National Trust, Jenny joins Water Lane with a huge amount of experience in both growing vegetables for kitchen gardens, cut flowers and ornamental gardens.
Jenny joins Water Lane at an exciting time of growth and development of the historic site. The two-acre site is a long-term restoration project, led by custodians Ian James and Nick Selby, who are slowly bringing back the garden to its original purpose of growing fruit and vegetables. With a deep respect for the garden’s roots, Water Lane far from a pastiche of Victorian walled garden; it is a garden that will be accessible to all and have many different functions, where people can gather and learn, and where skilled teachers can share their knowledge around horticulture, floral design and artisan craft and food.
Gardening is a second career for Jenny, who after 10 years in television media research, went part-time to study for a RHS Diploma. Once qualified she started her first professional gardening position at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, working in the vegetable garden.
Jenny comments, “Gardening has always been part of my life. From a very young age I have always enjoyed the creative element of gardening - working with nature to create something beautiful, evoking all the senses. One of my earliest memories is watching my Taid (Welsh grandfather), who was a market gardener, tend the tomatoes in the old glasshouses.”
About Water Lane
The site of Water Lane with its 13 Grade II Victorian glasshouses dates back to the 1800s, on what was once the Tongswood Estate. Working alongside Jo Thompson Garden Design and RX Architects, the whole site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive garden with 72 no-dig vegetable and cut flower beds for the restaurant and shop, and wholesale to local florists, stock and trial beds, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events. There is a weekly Produce Market & Kitchen every Saturday and seasonal fairs in Spring, Autumn, and Christmas.
Tongswoods Gardens
Water Lane was previously known as ‘Tongswood Gardens’. It belonged to the Tongswood estate, its name deriving from the Old English ‘Twang’ or ‘Tang’ meaning ‘fork of water’ in reference to the two streams of the river Rother which ran through the estate. Having passed through many families, the estate was bought by Charles Gunther in 1903. In its heyday the garden employed nine gardeners who tended the 13 Victorian greenhouses, including a vinery, peach house, melon house, fern house, fruit house and carnation house. The garden produced beautiful flowers, fruit and vegetables providing ample for the main house, the house in London and even a van of surplus for the local hospital.
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For more information about Jenny Huddart’s appointment, interview with Ian James and Nick Selby, images or to arrange a visit to Water Lane, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on Hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361