Behind the scenes with staff and volunteers
A portion of Brighton Level has lately been enclosed with a neat rail-fence as cricketing ground for the accomodation of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and such of the Nobility and Gentry may be inclined, during their summer residence at Brighton, to amuse themselves with that manly exercise.
From The Sussex Weekly Advertiser, 18 April, 1791
Ulex europeus, Gorse
Give yourself 5 minutes of pure pleasure and swing through the Royal Pavilion Gardens. The spring / early summer garden is looking marvellous this year, about a month ahead of itself due to recent hot, sunny weather.
The tapestry of the many shades of green, the seemingly ‘accidental’ contrasts of structure, form and leaf shape, highlighted by patches of luminous yellows – much as we see in our Downland countryside – are both tranquil and pleasing. Plants are arranged in a supposedly ‘haphazard’ fashion in order to appear more natural, and importantly, more attractive to the many garden birds and are punctuated by clumps of gorse (Ulex europaeus) spilling over like pools of sunlight.
Pause downwind for a moment, especially if the sun is shining, to catch a whiff of the rich, coconut perfume and listen to the humming of the bees.
Ulex europeus, Gorse
Gorse, also known as Furze, is native to much of Western Europe. It is a thorny evergreen which flowers throughout the winter but most strongly in the spring when a carpet of yellow blossom covers each bush. There are two forms, the common single flowered gorse and the double flowered form – Ulex europaus ‘Flore Plena’. Both can be seen in many locations throughout the Royal Pavilion Gardens.
The photographs are of the double flowers. Gorse brings to the Gardens that touch of natural influence so admired by gardeners in Regency times.
Finally, a tip for gardeners: when pruning your gorse into shape, save the clippings to strew around your choice new plants. The spiny prickles are a strong deterrent for slugs and snails with their supersoft bodies.
Veronica, Volunteer Gardener, Royal Pavilion Gardens
Last week the goodness of the weather and number of illustrious visitants, made Brighton almost as gay and pleasant as it generally is in the middle of June. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Mrs Fitzherbert and many of the Nobility graced the Steine.
From The Sussex Weekly Advertiser, 16 April, 1792
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