VII BUILDINGS AND GA R D E N S COLLEGE BUILDINGS . After repairs to the fabric and foundations, Benson Hall has
been stunningly redecorated in white, grey, and gold. The other principal visual delight has been the installation of new gates to the Master’s Lodge (see p 8), replacing the old wooden ones. The main work of the year has involved making a start with a major project, the modernisation of the Kitchens and Buttery. This began with a upgrading of catering facilities in Cripps Court as the temporary alternative; improvement of the cellars below the Buttery and beneath the Old Lodge; and revamping the electrical power supply from the Benson Court sub-station.
New bedding in the Parlour & Chapel beds in First Court THE GARDENS . No garden is ever entirely finished, and even the best-loved and well-tended need times of renewal and change. It is with this in mind that the Garden Team has been undertaking some exciting projects in the past year. For the arrival of the new Master it was decided to replant the driveway to his home to create a more stately and formal approach, to tie in with the clean lines of the Lodge. These lines have also been uncovered from their ivy clad garb. Many of the shrubs that were over-mature or roses that were clearly on their last legs were either heavily pruned or removed. They have been replaced with what will be a simple yew hedge and a mixture of shrubs to provide colour, shape and interest throughout the year. Everything is now growing away strongly. The area of change that has been most noticeable is in Second Court. These borders were full of some unusual, interesting and arresting plants. It had a lovely overgrown charm, but it did need some work on it to rein in some of the more vigorous species. The Vitis coignetiae, or Crimson Glory vine, magnificent as it was, had all but taken over one side, believing maybe it was back in its native Japan, climbing up to 25 metres or more into a forest tree. It made sense therefore to take the opportunity to introduce some new herbaceous perennials. On the theme of ‘hot’ colours for the sunny side and ‘cool’ colours for the shadier side, many new perennials as well as some climbers and shrubs have been introduced to complement what we retained of the old planting. Despite having only been planted earlier, the concept of ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ border can be seen emerging by July. All newly-planted borders take a couple of years to come really into their own, not only for plants to reach their fullest potential but also because of the inevitable tweaking and rearranging by the
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