Elm disease killed many of the trees in 1970's and gladiators Walk did not escape. Trees were felled and the Head gardener planted 600 saplings of coloured chestnut trees. These should now be beginning to look good if – and cared for(planted 1976-1977). If one stands top end of Gladiators walk and looks at the shape of the land, banks slope either side with a reasonable piece of ground level land at the bottom of the slopes. This would protect the trees from the weather. Was this an Encampment? Where did the flints come from for the walls of the garden? A pile of flints were found in the water-bowl by the willow when the river bed was excavated for the course of the new waterway. Some of the flints were used by the garden feature for the walk over the bridges. Chalk will crumble to powder if wet and frosted. It was well protected by coverings to keep dry.