From garden tours and artefacts to plants themselves, the range of items on offer is certainly eye catching. They include an avenue of 40 young lime trees propagated from an original 18th century tree that once grew in Wimpole Hall Cambridgeshire, and currently at the Trust’s special lime nursery at Dunham Massey. A real investment for the future, they are estimated at £1500-2500.
Those without an avenue to plant up may be more taken by a young walnut tree grown from the 200 year old specimen at Hardwick Hall, estimated at £250-350.
Two composition marble busts of Cleopatra and Faustina are replicas of 2nd century Roman originals in the collection at Petworth. Made
as additional copies to the
two commissioned by the Trust in 1994 from Cliveden Conservation Workshops to restore the Temple of Venus at Stowe. Each is estimated at £1500-2500.
Lots from the NT’s plots
Lovers of matters horticultural and supporters of the National Trust will be able to combine both interests this month. Sotheby’s September 25 sale of Garden Statuary and architectural items at Billingshurst includes a special 21-lot section titled The National Trust Gardens Year Auction comprising items donated to the Trust for sale as part of its Gardens Year celebrations with the aim of raising money for its Gardens Fund.
