Early Autumn at Goldstone Hall

As summer begins to soften into autumn, Goldstone’s five-acre garden continues to offer colour, flavour and plenty of interest.

Following an exceptionally hot, dry summer, it is remarkable how quickly the lawns have begun to recover. They remain a little patchy in places, but the grass is growing enthusiastically once again – keeping both the edging shears and our ancient 36-inch Allett cylinder mower busy. With its proper steel gears, it can usually be persuaded back into action with a well-placed tap from a hammer, unlike many of its modern counterparts!

In the walled garden, cheerful yellow rudbeckias with their distinctive dark centres are providing vivid splashes of colour. The roses are beginning to produce another flush, while autumn-flowering cyclamen are quietly appearing.

Visitors should also look beneath the ancient cherry tree at the bottom of the garden, where colchicums – often known as autumn crocuses – can suddenly emerge and create an unexpected seasonal display.

Dahlias, herbs and unusual edibles

Turning into the kitchen garden, the dahlias are at their showiest. Tall stems of Verbena bonariensis weave through the planting, their small purple-blue flowers standing out beautifully against the deep tones of the purple beech hedge.

Look out, too, for the unusual foliage of yacon and the pumpkins beginning to clamber through the daisy bank.

On the Ellerton Terrace, the tarragon may look slightly untidy at this point in the season, but it continues to pack a considerable punch in the kitchen. Tropaeolum tuberosum is also recovering and making its way up the supports.

Interestingly, the usually dependable nasturtiums have struggled with the extreme dryness. At this time of year, they would normally be taking over parts of the kitchen garden. This season, they have been far more reluctant – a reminder that even supposedly robust plants can respond unpredictably to unusual conditions.

New plants from Wollerton Old Hall

Many garden enthusiasts will know that the founders of the remarkable five-acre garden at Wollerton Old Hall have now retired. John and Lesley Jenkins created a celebrated garden known for its bold use of colour, structure and perspective. Its new owners intend to continue developing their extraordinary horticultural legacy, with the garden expected to reopen in spring 2027.

During the recent clearance sale, we were fortunate to acquire some wonderful and unusual cultivars, particularly salvias and dahlias – two of Lesley’s favourite plant groups.

These new arrivals will contribute to our plans for the banks surrounding Goldstone’s trial vineyard. For the moment, the salvias will remain in pots so they can be moved to shelter during cold weather, while the dahlias will be lifted and dried during October and November.

Over winter, the banks will be cleared in preparation for planting next spring. The aim is to create an interesting and colourful backdrop to the formality of the vines and their trellises.

The planting will be interspersed with some more unusual edible plants, including pawpaw, kiwi and Japanese wineberry. We are still developing the planting plan – with plenty of inspiration coming from the Chiltern Seeds catalogue – and we look forward to sharing further details in due course. Groundwork is likely to begin from mid-October, so regular visitors can watch this new area gradually take shape.

Apples, grapes and breakfast juice

Harvesting has now begun on the espalier-trained apple trees. Some of the fruit will appear on Goldstone’s seasonal menus, but the majority will be sent to the press to create our own breakfast apple juice. Bottles are also available to purchase from the garden produce table in the inner hall.

The vine growing inside the polytunnel has been particularly productive this year, yielding an impressive 72kg of grapes. These, too, have been pressed to make a fresh juice for guests to enjoy at breakfast.

From brilliant rudbeckias and returning roses to autumn cyclamen, ripening fruit and plans for the vineyard banks, there is far more happening in the September garden than might be noticed at first glance.

If you are planning to visit Shropshire this autumn, take time to explore Goldstone Hall’s five-acre RHS Partner Garden and one-acre kitchen garden. Look closely, ask questions and discover the plants, produce and stories that make this garden such a distinctive part of the Shropshire countryside.

 John Cushing, September 2026

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