From its iconic Dry Garden to exciting new features, our Essex garden goes from strength to strength. From its iconic Dry Garden to exciting new features, our Essex garden goes from strength to strength.

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Sky Meadow

Radiating outward from a majestic oak, this cultivated perennial meadow connects the western hillside to the woodland, while meandering grass pathways allow visitors to explore its vast naturalistic planting

Looking its best in...

Summer A vast array of colours, textures and wildlife
Autumn Structural seedheads set against big open skies

Preparing the site

In 2014, under the guidance of Professor James Hitchmough from The University of Sheffield (a horticultural consultant for the London 2012 Olympic Park), the Hyde Hall team prepared 7,400 sq m (80,000 sq ft) of land on the western hillside around a lone majestic oak.

The entire area was covered with 1,100 tonnes of sand spread to a depth of 10cm (4in). Stakes were used to mark out swathes that were to be sown with four different seed mixes.

Sowing the meadow

The meadow was sown in early 2015. Seed was mixed with sawdust to allow the team to clearly see the areas they had sown and the ground was then coarsely raked over.

The four seed mixes contain species associated with North American prairie, the Eurasian Steppe, a combined North American and South African mix, and prairie grass, each sown in broad bands radiating out from the central oak in a circular pattern. The thousands of seeds incorporate many recognisable plants including Aster, Gazania, Echinacea, Panicum, Rudbeckia, Euphorbia and Kniphofia.

A sensory experience

In time, Sky Meadow will become a visual and sensual experience that peaks from May to August, superseded by glorious autumnal colours and textures.

Despite the arduous requirement to weed the area by hand until flowers outstrip the weeds, the meadow has already proved to be hugely beneficial for wildlife, bringing hares, birds of prey, grasshoppers and crickets. Its tall seedheads becoming a valuable food resource for bees and birds.

Plants in the Sky Meadows

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.