Paradise lost for divorcing 'naked gardeners - England

[Danee]

The 'Garden of Eden' created by the couple dubbed the 'naked gardeners' is up for sale because they are to divorce, after she accused him of being a womanising alcoholic



One of the infamous ‘naked gardeners’ who with her husband transformed the grounds of a country manor into their own naturist 'Garden of Eden' is divorcing him because he is a womanising alcoholic.

There are fears Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury, developed over five years by Ian and Barbara Pollard, could be lost when the 16th century mansion is sold – disappointing thousands of naked tourists who visit every year.

The couple, who became well known naturists after numerous television appearances dressed in little more than wellies, and the ‘clothes optional’ days they held at the popular Wiltshire gardens, have put their home up for sale.


Mr Pollard claims he has been forced to put the home they shared with their three children up for sale because he cannot afford to buy his wife, a former model, out of the property.

The couple met 30 years ago and spent four years turning the former nunnery and neglected grounds into a nationally renowned garden. This opened in 1994 and has attracted almost half a million visitors in the last 20 years.

The Pollards made headlines when they famously unearthed a skeleton of a 12th century monk in the tulip beds of the gardens, and have transformed the five acre grounds into a paradise of wildflower gardens, an ornamental pond, waterfalls and well-trimmed lawns.
Mr Pollard, 68, said: "The long and short of it is that Eve is leaving the Garden of Eden.

"Quite simply my wife is divorcing me, which has resulted in the putting of the house and the gardens on the market.
"It is a real shame and I am very sad and angry about it. I'm a very hurt individual."
Mr Pollard said they had made a go at their marriage until last July when his wife went to a ‘family healing’ course at Glastonbury.

He said: "After coming back she left me, the three kids - who are 18, 22, and 27."
He added: “I'm a womanising alcoholic.
"To all parties concerned it is 'where the hell did she dream that one up'.
"To call me a womaniser is ludicrous. Also an alcoholic - I like drinking like 80 or 90 per cent of the country. Her idea is that you shouldn't drink at all, you should abstain from alcohol completely.
"She also said I left the marital bed, but she was the one that moved."

In a statement Mrs Pollard said: "All I can say is that Ian and I are very different people but with common interests.
"We have brought different skills to the development of Abbey House and its gardens, which it has been a privilege to participate in.
"However I am not getting any younger, I will not last forever and I believe it is time to let someone else create a new chapter here.
"I wish to continue my interest in gardening, approach it in a different way and grow food among the flowers."

Mr Pollard claims his 62-year-old wife moved out of their home and filed for divorce three months ago, but then moved back into the 12 bedroom house ten days ago when the lease on her rented property ran out.
He also claims she returned and said she wanted to speak to ‘garden divas’ or fairies.
He added: “She said it was one of the things that she said she was going to when she came back. Scary stuff."
Mr Pollard said he would like to keep the house but cannot afford to buy his wife out of the mansion.

The pair were labelled the ‘naked gardeners' when they appeared on the BBC show Gardeners’ World and opened the grounds to fellow naturists for the first time. Around 200 visitors to the gardens stripped off.

Sue Poole, elected mayor of Malmesbury, has appealed for any prospective buyer to keep the gardens open.
She said: “Abbey House Gardens are very important to the town and has brought in a lot of people to Malmesbury. It has put the town on the map.
"People come to the tourist information centre and the town hall and ask 'where are the Naked Gardeners' and it will be a very sad loss to Malmesbury."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_House_Gardens

[TheSeane]

Sometimes you grow together but more often you grow apart.  Seems like the community is hoping it will stay maintained somehow.  Hopefully it will.

[Gman707]

How sad. It is a Beautiful spot. 

[nudetrail]

How sad. It is a Beautiful spot.

certainly is what a shame

[chrisw91]

I hope whoever buys it sees the business potential in keeping it the clothing optional events running. It is one place I have always wanted to visit since learning about naturism.

[nudistboy26]

I remember seeing them in an afternoon TV programme a good few years ago and thinking how idyllic it looked.
It's sad when people who got on that great, have a relationship breakdown.

He sounds very bitter by his comments at the end of the story, like he's at that stage where saying nothing is better.

[INnudeguy]

Does anyone find it ironic that the wife when to a "family healing" course and then decided to divorce her husband   

[nudistboy26]

I suppose that kind of course brings everything out into the open, then it can go either way. 

[Danee]

Does anyone find it ironic that the wife when to a "family healing" course and then decided to divorce her husband   

Yes, I noticed that too as I did the read.