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Bishop Woodford House

For a Pause on Life’s Journey

 
 

The Facility

 
 

Setting

Bishop Woodford House is a purpose built retreat house and conference centre opened in 1973 in the ancient cathedral city of Ely. It is just a few minutes walk from the beautiful cathedral, often referred to as "the ship of the Fens".

It is easily accessible by road, from the M11, A14 and A10, and also by rail with good services to London and to the North and West.

The house is located in the garden of the former Ely theological College that closed in 1964. The House is an oasis of peace and tranquillity, which benefits from the fact that it has been built relatively recently and has the comforts of modern living.

The garden is still very much in its infancy. A complete overhaul and re-planning of all the borders has been undertaken and new planting spaces have been created.

The aim with the garden is to make it inviting and interesting to guests of the house, no matter what time of year. Strictly avoiding a utilitarian feel by encouraging plants to tumble onto paths and scramble among each other and in the height of summer to have every inch of soil covered with foliage and flowers. Creating areas of relative privacy, where guests can sit undisturbed in the garden on a warm day with the sent of flowers and the busy drone of the bumblebee and feel totally at peace.

In August 2004 a winter garden with colourful dogwoods and various evergreen shrubs was planted. The plants whilst still young have given a colourful display this year, with the addition of 1100 bulbs planted throughout the garden spring is eagerly awaited.

The borders are now home to a large variety of herbaceous perennials, grasses and shrubs, with an emphasis on naturalistic planting. Traditional plants such, as Lupins, Delphiniums and Achilleas are included in the borders, alongside many perennials of borderline hardiness such as Salvias, Cerinthe and Penstemons, which due to the milder climate successfully over winter here.

In 2005 we plan to soften the buildings exterior with various climbers, as the buildings front aspect faces north this is something of a challenge. Clematis that tend to scorch in the sun will be used alongside Virginia Creepers, Climbing Hydrangea and Rambling Roses.

The garden also contributes towards the provision of the house, with a small kitchen garden, where vegetables and fresh herbs are grown organically throughout the summer.

The gardener keeps the use of chemicals to an absolute minimum using only organic fertilizers. Kitchen and garden waste is composted and put back into the soil. This way we can maintain a natural balance and encourage beneficial wildlife into the garden.

For a slideshow of all the pictures of the garden click here.

For a slideshow of what the gardener envisages for the garden click here.

Guests may also wander down to the river or through the Cathedral and Millennium Park.

 


Dining

 


The Facility