A NORTH Yorkshire based nursery has supplied thousands of plants to help restore the grounds of a historic site.

Johnsons of Whixley, a 100-year-old commercial nursery, is helping to restore the Studley Royal water garden, including the ruins of Fountain Abbey, to its former glory - a site with more than 300 years of history.

The planting is part of the National Trust’s long-term vision for the garden.

The scheme involves planting thousands of Taxus baccata, or yew, supplied by Johnsons, to replace overgrown and dying hedges.

The work includes restoring all bosquets, formal plantations of trees and shrubs with growing space inside, designed to give the effect of an “enclosed room”.

Johnsons’ marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson, said: “We feel privileged to be a part of more than 300 years of history.

“Since we were children, me and other members of our family have visited Fountains Abbey hundreds of times.

“The abbey’s past is genuinely fascinating and were excited to watch the hedging grow and flourish, returning the grounds to their former 18th-century glory.”

Work to restore the yew bosquets has been ongoing since 1983 - the hedges are big part of one of the water garden and have survived with influences coming from earlier French, Dutch, Italian gardens.

Michael Ridsdale, head gardener at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said: “Working with our local industries is key to the continuing success of the Yorkshire economy.

“Johnson’s and their former partners have been involved with this great estate for well over 50 years.

“Locally produced stock is extremely important to us, even more so now as climate change is becoming a major issue for us all.

“Keeping it local allows us to keep in constant contact with Johnsons - nothing can be better for the buyer than being able to jump in the van and see how their stock is growing.

“We have a lovely relationship with all the staff at Johnson’s and it must be gratifying for them to be able to walk round the estate with their families and say we were part of that.”