BARON FERDINAND'S WALK

During 2001 we discovered a lost part of the Outer Garden. The excavations found evidence of a crushed brick and gravel path about 2 metres in width. It can be assumed to have started at the location of the statue of Apollo Belvedere. There was very little evidence of this, as since the War, the area had been used as a deposit for garden refuse. However, once the path was intercepted, evidence for its direction was continuous. The path winds artfully between the trees, crosses the modern clearing at the centre of the woodland, re-enters the wood and then a 'T' junction provides alternative routes.

The route to the north runs by an easy gradient down through the wood, taking in views out to the landscape and Waddesdon church. It emerges on the north side of the replanted area at a point where there is a remarkable panorama of Tulip Patch, the Dairy, its lake and the village. From there, it appears that it gained access to the drive down the fenced alley that lay between the llama/deer enclosure and the parkland until fifteen years ago.

We have now reinstated the walk to the east of the House, leading from the upper terrace to a glade behind the statue of Apollo Belvedere. This gives a completely different atmosphere to the symmetry and bright colour of the Parterre. Baron Ferdinand's Walk offers the visitor beautiful parkland views towards one of the contemporary sculptures in the Gardens, Terra Degli Etruschi, meaning Earth or Grounds of the Etruschans, by Stephen Cox. Walk through through the dappled light and shade of woodland to an impressive seat by the same artist, in the form of a huge drum partially sunk into the earth.