Episode: 2
Title: Ireland gardening: Mount Steward House and Gardens
Broadcast: 26 March
Presenter: Trevor

Trevor visits another beautiful international garden. Mount Stewart House and gardens in Ireland is a substantial garden covering almost 100 acres, the house has recently reopened after having undergone a massive restoration. They've brought back the elegance and charm of the house when it was home of the 7th Marchioness Edith, Lady Londonderry in the early 19th century.

• Owned by the Stewart family since 1744 they started an arboretum initially using plants collected from around the globe. In the day to sponsor one of the great botanical plant hunters was something nobility did to further society and Alexander Stewart purchased this land atop Mt Pleasant.
• The Neo Classical residence that exists today is a result of his family’s success as linen manufacturers and marrying later generations to other wealthy members of society.
• The early 20th century saw an intensive garden development begin and they added the Shamrock Garden a classic Irish garden, the Sunken Garden with its stunning special design and intensive plantings added.
• They increased the size of the lake using the labour of returned service men from World war 1 and later added a Spanish Garden with a small hut, the Italian Garden, the Dodo Terrace, the Menagerie, the Fountain Pool and laid out walks in the Lily Wood and rest of the estate.
• In 1977 Lady Mairi Bury gave the house to the national trust, they now operate the property under the name "Mount Stewart House, Garden & Temple of the Winds". Lady Mairi Bury was the last Londonderry family member to live at Mount Stewart, and the last member of this Anglo-Irish family to live in Ireland when she died at Mount Stewart on 18 November 2009, at the age of 88.
• This is a place is considered one of the very best garden and historical house experiences you can have. Just 30 minutes out of Belfast its easy access too, making it a terrific day trip.

Contact: Tourism Ireland
W: www.ireland.com/en-au/
P: 0800 313 4000