I was thrilled when Raymond Blanc decided to convert the restaurant gardens to no dig, last November. On No Dig Day in fact https://charlesdowding.co.uk/3rd-november-2022-no-dig-day.
Since then I’ve been working with them as much as I can, to advise on weed control, and teaching at their garden school.
I do wish this great place could be less expensive, but it’s specialness comes from the resources made available by high prices. Raymond is from a peasant family and is aware of this – he told me how pleased he is to see the ordinary cars of many guests.
They employ quite a team of gardeners to achieve what you see. Growing vegetables by hand is time consuming. And brings fantastic results.
00:00 Raymond and I talking about soil
01:29 I explain my involvement with Le Manoir
02:27 Le Manoir gardens becoming no dig
02:53 Work done on their pathways
04:09 I introduce August Bernstein, kitchen gardener and head tutor of Raymond Blanc Gardening School
04:17 August explains how she got into no dig
06:02 And how vegetables are used in the restaurant
08:54 Interview with Raymond
10:11 Pests in Le Manoir gardens
10:19 Raymond explains the his background, and how he learnt about growing vegetables
12:03 Le Manoir changing to no dig
13:05 Raymond explains his future garden plans, and talks about the his gardening school
14:19 And his plans for a ‘bee village’
Filmed 31st May by Edward Dowding https://edowdingfilms.onfabrik.com/portfolio in Oxfordshire, UK.
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34 Comments
What an inspiration to any vegetable gardener.
Wow, what an extraordinary place! I love all the collaborations. Gardeners with chefs, chefs with patrons, gardeners teaching the public. It's remarkable. Stunning, productive gardens and orchards, an amazing restaurant, and apiary, and a truly community oriented learning center for all ages…AMAZING!
very interesting! I think he is very very passionate 🙂
Charles, les passionnés sont passionnants ! Merci à vous car les passionnés sont aussi inspirants. THANK YOU !
We garden organically , We have a very large garden and considered very large by London standards , however we are " overrun " by Foxes . They forage for the worms so we suffer when food is scarce . We net barrier but that does not help as they dig under the netting . Unfortunately manure fertilizer is out of the question now so for the first time in 40 years the allotment is our only way of vegetable growing . This year I have turned to flowers for the garden
What a treat to watch! Raymond is so passionate and so are the staff, it must be such a rewarding place to work, I'd love to visit one day. Thank you for sharing Charles and you can really see the refinement in your sons film making from the early days, looked lovely.
Thank you Charles for sharing!
Fui as lagrimas de ver tanta paixão é um prazer enorme ver o trabalho de uma vida dando frutos de tao alta qualidade, obrigado por nos ter dado a oportunidade de ver tanta beleza.
Thank you
Quelle belle vidéo et quel enthousiasme! Quel plaisir de vous voir tous les deux si passionnés, avec ce respect du sol et des collègues. J'ai éclaté de rire à la fin avec l'invitation pour voir son ail !
Two of my biggest inspirations in life
Pozytywny człowiek 😊
Rarely, do we see such an infectious display of enthusiasm, and passion. Via yourself Mr Dowding, and Mr Blanc. It therefore becomes a delightful visual and audible experience. Encapsulating the method, and subsequent knowledge gained, and shown. Within a very elegant setting. I therefore thank you both. For allowing myself, and numerous others, to enter your world of utter enchantment!
This brings back lovely memories of living in Oxfordshire and visiting Le Manoir. Thank you for the inspiration!
Ahh bless you beautiful people, this video has really made me smile🙏 And by the way I’m in my second year of a no-dig vegetable garden after watching your channel Charles, its working so well, thank you for giving me the confidence! We are also down the road in Somerset
Charles, Percy Thrower the 60's gardener said "the answer lies in the soil" you've carried that on. Raymond is an inspiration.
Que hermoso todo Charles … un abrazo desde Chile🤩🌿🌿
I nursed with Sue Dowding in Cape Town in 1969-71
Her parents lived in Hermanus
Wow…what great energy touting the goodness of gardening on so many levels.
Do they have a YouTube channel ?
Very inspiring.
He's a very passionate man just like yourself Charles now that's a restaurant with proper tasting food I'd like.
Great video 👍
Am I correct that they are using some weed matting? I am curious about how that is working with No Dig?
I knew it was going to be interesting when the video made me smile in the first minute. Thankyou Charles for giving us the opportunity to see such an enthusiastic project. It must be nice to know you planted the seed of no dig there 😊
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉
I started smiling about five seconds into this video, and I didn’t stop smiling until it ended! 😊
Que dos personas más increíbles!! Tienen una fuerza y amor por lo que hacen que lo transmiten al 100% .Muy corto tu vídeo para todo lo que se ve en ese pequeño paraíso 😂 Saludos desde Tenerife !! 👏🌸🤙🏻🐝🐞🌷
Fantastico…!!!
Charles, buddy…
We need more lovelies like August in our world. Thanks for the tour sir!
💚💚💚c’est magnifique
Such an inspirational video! Thank you! ❤
Also, send my thanks to your son. His videos are so easy to watch and natural and getting close to perfection. How the shot’s lenght is matching the rythm of the dialog, those refteshing spontanious parts of you two preparing the shots or the ending.
It’s such a symphony.
Than you both and all the people on your team for your hard work. ❤
Used to live just a couple of miles away – in the 90s. It's changed a lot! The gardening school is a fabulous concept & so pleased they've gone no dig.
Wonderful video! Raymond Blanc's opening comments were just so funny! He's a legend!