National Trust bids to rid Avebury Manor gardens of box blight

After suspicions that the disease was affecting the gardens were confirmed last year, volunteers and gardeners have pruned the hedges but have been unable to stop the disease spreading.

Simon Brooks, Avebury Manor head gardener, said: “This is very sad news because it means we will have to, eventually, replace most of the box in the garden. Avebury Manor garden has gone through many stages over its 500-year history, including significant additions in the early 18th century, again in the 1870s and finally completely new planting design in the early 20th century, so although we are keeping to that 20th-century design with some different plans, we have come to look at this as just another phase in the garden’s history.”

Box blight is a disease of the leaves and stems of the plant and is spread by two types of fungi. This causes the leaves to go brown and fall off, leading to unsightly bare patches. In an ornamental garden such as Avebury Manor garden, where there are high box hedges as well as topiary, the effect could be devastating.

“One of the first things we have done is remove and burn the box from the Monks Garden. We’ve put in new timber edges to the paths and are replanting the garden with a colourful annual and ornamental vegetable display. In the longer term this area will become a potager/knot garden with herb edging. In the topiary garden we shall be keeping the same basic layout, which echoes the ceiling pattern in the Tudor bedroom in Avebury Manor,” added Mr Brooks.

The National Trust staff and volunteers sprang into action last year, but sadly the actions taken by the team were unable to fully stop the spread, meaning changes are being planned to tackle the issue.

“I am really pleased with the way the gardening team has pulled together. Regular visitors have already expressed great interest in the plans we have and have enjoyed seeing the progress we are making,” Mr Brooks said.