Tree-mendous: Brinsbury College students use old stumps to create standout garden feature

Brinsbury College students are making their mark with a vibrant new garden, combining creativity, craftsmanship and plant knowledge.

The ‘Stumpery Garden’ has been designed by Level Two Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship students in a corner of the main garden next to Brinsbury House.

It features a wide range of plants including tulips, ferns and evergreens presenting a delightful view out across the garden from the offices.

The focus of the Stumpery was to create a garden in a location where it could be showcased, so it was placed next to Brinsbury House near a key walkway area.

A wide range of shade-loving plants with a natural woodland feel were planted to work alongside the stumps. Species planted include, Heuchera, Tiarella, digitalis (foxglove), epimedium, lamium, euphorbia, aquilegia, campanula, hostas and a range of ferns. 

The students drew inspiration for their choice of tulips to compliment the Stumpery from a trip to a tulip festival.

James Alison, Lecturer in Horticulture at Brinsbury College, said: “The students complimented the scheme with a tulip display which were displayed in pots stood on logs supplied by the arboriculture department.

“The students chose the colour scheme and the planting combinations for the tulip display. Last academic year, the students were able to visit Arundel Castle to see the tulip festival so they were able to draw inspiration from that visit.

“The design and planting of the border took place over multiple weeks and was able to support various units of study such as soil science and cultivation, establishing plants and plant identification.”

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