The Cullen Garden at Cressing Temple

The Cullen Garden is undergoing some modifications to allow for better access and as a result some planting schemes will be redeveloped during 2008.

The area before the garden was planted. The false acacia was unfortunately slowly keeling over as it died and had to be removed.

The Cullen family who owned Cressing Temple from 1913-1987 were one of the many seed growers formerly active in this part of Essex. Although vegetable seeds formed the bulk of their production, they also grew flower seeds, notably sweet peas. As the owner of Cressing Temple from 1913-1971, Frank Cullen cared for the barns and other buildings, and was largely responsible for their good condition today.

This garden has been designed by Andrew Mugford to commemorate the life and work of Frank Cullen. It is in the style of Percy Cane (1881-1976), who came from Braintree and designed gardens at Dartington Hall, Woburn and elsewhere. It is a glade garden, in which a lawn with curving borders is enclosed by herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees.

The borders in their first season and already looking magnificent.

A bench at the southern end of the Cullen Garden has been dedicated to Frank Cullen. From it one can view the garden and the farmhouse as pictured above.

Dr Andrew Mugford is an experienced horticulturalist who studied at Kew and before coming to Cressing Temple was a professional landscape designer. The Cullen Garden was designed and created entirely by him in early 2005. For him it was his legacy to Cressing Temple as sadly (for us) he has left us for the sunnier climes of North Norfolk.