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| Places to go -> Donegal Town |
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Address :
Donegal Town
Surrounding Area :
Donegal
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Description :
Ardnamona, meaning 'height of the bog' was a wilderness up until the nineteenth century. The Oak woods are a remnant of an ancient Woodland that was once more widespread. Today such a woodland is rare in Ireland. It is interesting that many notable Irish Gardens have found shelter in such woodlands.
"Romantic and picturesque with an appealing beauty which clings around one's heart and for which it is difficult to find words" is how Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1835, describes Lough Eske and its surrounds.
A century and a half have passed yet much of the mystique and atmosphere spoken of so eloquently remains to be experienced to this day.
It was the Wray family who built Ardnamona House in the 1830s and were also responsible for the early planting of trees in the Pinetum. These include notable specimens of Nikko Fir, Oriental Spruce, Wellingtonia, Coastal Redwood, Monkey Puzzle and Hiba, forming a long 'ride' leading down to the lake from the house.
The main Rhododendron planting dates from the slightly later period of the 1880s and 1890s by the new occupants - Sir Arthur and Lady Wallace. Records at Glasnevin Botanic Garden indicate many "Rhododendrons and hardy trees and shrubs" were supplied to the Wallaces in this period.
Several invasive shrubs and herbaceous perennials were also introduced. Rhododendron ponticum is widespread and spreading. Sasa palmata covers acres - in one place forming a pleasing association with the native Birch. Himalayan knotweed is rampant - having completely swamped the kitchen gardens. Montbretia forms a solid carpet in several places. Crocosmia pottsii - one of the parents of the more common C. x crocosmiiflora is found here at Ardnamona.
Mrs Hazel West was the last gardener occupant at Ardnamona - the Dawn Redwoods having been introduced during her time. From the mid 1950s onto 1990 little attention was paid to the gardens - which meant they became wild and naturalised. Until very recently cattle and sheep roamed freely through the gardens.
In 1981 the woods were entered into the National Inventory as a site of ecological and botanical importance. In 1990 Amabel and Kieran Clarke became the new owners - their main objective being the restoration and conservation of the gardens. In 1991 Ardnamona Garden was designated a National Heritage Garden.
Funding from the National Heritage Council has enabled essential conservation work to be carried out by students from the National Botanical Gardens.
The future objectives for the garden are: the conservation of the collection of hardy trees, shrubs and Rhododendrons, and the provision of access to the gardens for a wider public.
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