A HISTORIC home- famous for its eye-catching topiary- has set an ambitious target for gardens to get involved in its growing event, which has already seen the Palace of Versailles sign up.

Levens Hall and Gardens is setting a 100-garden target, as it aims to boost participation in what is already a flourishing event – World Topiary Day on May 12.

The house and gardens, near Milnthorpe, is home to the Guinness World Record-holding ‘world’s oldest topiary garden’, and founded World Topiary Day in 2021, amid restricted lockdown opening.

Its staging of the inaugural event enthused the European Boxwood & Topiary Society (ETBS) in the UK and now ‘c’est formidable!’

The French branch of the ETBS has fully embraced the 2022 event and has over 40 gardens participating, not just in France but also in the USA, Spain and Madeira.

Now Levens Hall and Gardens, in conjunction with the ETBS UK, has encouraged British gardens to get involved with the event.

Gardens with topiary can stage activities on the day and run events across the following weekend.

Levens Hall and Gardens closes on Saturdays but will create something for weekend visitors to do on Sunday May 15, as well as on May 12.

So far, UK gardens taking part, alongside Levens Hall and Gardens are: The Manor House Garden; Grimsthorpe Castle; Ham House and Garden and Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue.

With these UK gardens taking the total number of known participants to around 44 so far, the manor house is now looking for another 56, as it sets its 100-garden target.

“We already have prestigious world gardens such as the Palace of Versailles in France, Longwood and Jardin de Buis in the USA, and Palheiro Gardens in Madeira taking part, but our goal is to reach out to many more,” said Leven Hall’s owner, Richard Bagot.

“We would love to see Disney participating, for instance, as topiary is part of the history of its USA parks.

“We also want to welcome more gardens in countries like Spain, where we have Pao Pegullal, but also inspire gardens with topiary gems in countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

“Of course, there are so many more UK gardens that could participate too so, whilst 100 may seem a stretching target, the love of topiary extends worldwide and we have the whole world to aim at.

“We want topiary to gain its rightful place on the gardening world stage.”

To get involved, email WTD@catapultpr.co.uk

More information can be found at www.levenshall.co.uk