The spectacular RHS Garden Bridgewater finally opened its doors last week after a long anticipated wait.
The new 154-acre garden, which represents one of the largest gardening projects in Europe. It has been designed by world-renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith and features the magnificent 11-acre Weston Walled Garden.
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Myself and the studio photographer, Bobby, visited the garden on the opening weekend and it was, as you would expect, wonderful!
The RHS Garden Bridgewater features cutting-edge design by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winners alongside spaces dedicated to members of the community. RHS Garden Bridgewater is a beacon of gardening inspiration, education, and engagement in the heart of the northwest of England.
The history of RHS Garden Bridgewater
RHS Garden Bridgewater is steeped in history, created on the site of the historic seat of the Earls of Ellesmere – Worsley New Hall in Salford. It takes its name from the Bridgewater canal, which opened in 1761 to transport coal to Manchester. During the 19th Century, Queen Victoria twice visited the hall, and in honour of her visit, the canal was dyed blue.
During the war, Worsley New Hall was used as a hospital and army training ground and subsequently was then left to rot. The once grand building was finally demolished in the 1940s by a scrap merchant who purchased the hall for £2500.
'Everyone deserves access to beautiful landscapes and glorious gardens, and for people living in Manchester and Salford, having an RHS Garden on your doorstep is a real horticultural treat.'
Alan Titchmarsh MBE
The Paradise Garden
As you walk around the garden you find that it is home to many different floral masterpieces, showcasing various themes and visions.
My favourite is The Paradise Garden, where contemporary meets traditional. The garden planting cleverly blends Mediterranean and Asiatic species.
Water is a defining feature and right in the heart of The Paradise Garden is the most stunning 70 sq meter lily pond. It felt wonderful to take a seat, soak up the atmosphere and admire the gorgeous planting, it's so calming!
The garden's walls create a microclimate in which a wide range of plants from all over the world can grow and flourish. In this section, there are a whopping 89 beds and 27000 plants. That is quite a difference compared to the 12 beds that occupy my allotment!
My favourite flower in The Paradise Garden is this gorgeous Geum named 'Totally Tangerine', which the bees absolutely loved!
There is just so much to see at RHS Garden Bridgewater– the Weston Walled Garden contains multiple garden rooms, setting the tone for a journey of exploration with colourful themed borders, complementary sub-gardens each exploring a different horticultural style and characterful listed buildings. The wider woodland, meadows, and lakes further your enjoyment. https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater/explore
The incredible team involved in transforming this 154-acre site into a beautiful world-class garden has done such a fantastic job. I really recommend you pay the garden a visit if you are able to. I will certainly go again in a couple of months time to see the summer flowers bloom.
To find out more about RHS Garden Bridgewater click here.