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#1
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Anyone been to Alnwick garden - here is a review
from http://www.gardennetlinks.co.uk The UK directory of garden
related websites Alnwick Garden is situated on the estate of the Duke of Northumberland and was set up by his wife, Jane, The Duchess of Northumberland. The garden (on a 12 acre site) was opened by Prince Charles in 2002 and has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in North East England. The garden appeals to a wide audience, from the proffessional gardener, down to people who just garden as a relaxing past time. The garden has excellent access for the disabled, which I think is great. It has the advantage of being built recently, so such considerations could be taken into account into the plans. Its £8 for adults to visit and on a pleasant day you could easily spend a long morning or afternoon there, but a full day I think might be a bit long, unless you just want to relax on on one of the many seats in quiet enclaves surrounded by plants or have kids who can play in a safe environment. The gardens main feature is a vast stunning water feature that is built onto a hill, which every half an hour begins a display that sends the water from the top to the base using fountains and jets. At the top of the hill is a stunning heavily planted walled garden, with a large dovecote attached to one of the walls and a huge range of plants in separated areas, with walkways and water between them. Within the main garden is a number of smaller zones, such as the rose garden, bamboo maze and a selection of ingenious water features, creating curtains of water and bubble pools. To the left of the large water display is the poison garden. This garden has been sectioned off with a large wrought iron garden gate with ornate poison ivy and spiders which could have came from the set of Harry Potter. (Alnwick Castle, just a short walk away was used as the school in the film.) You can only enter this part of the garden with a guide, and on realising this I was going to give the wait a miss. However, I decided to wait for the next tour to start and was glad I did. The guide was informative and humourous and gave a tour of all the deadly and poisonous plants, with an explanation of the damage they can do. As well as Marjuana (the first of which had been stolen by a local enthusiast!) and opium plants, the garden contained plants that can be found in many suburban gardens. Two examples are foxgloves and Laburnum trees, both of which if ingested can cause serious illness and even death. There was a plant in the garden called Vinca, which is a strain of the Periwinkle family, the guide explained that is used is used for treating Luekemia. What was amazing was that the guide told us that when researching the plant, they discovered that as long ago as the 16th century it was recognised as helping to reduce tumours. The Elizabethans were clever! There is new dining facilities within a glass visitor centre where you can stop for a meal, snack or ice cream and sit and admire the view from tables on a large patio overloking the garden. There is a well stocked shopping area with some nice crafty stuff, home made fudges etc. Within the grounds, near the car park there is one of Europes largest tree house villages, with a shop, restaurant and rope bridges connecting the houses. It's great and I reckon if your have young children they will absolutely love it! If you have never visited Northumberland before, then Alnwick Garden is a good reason to make the trip. Northumberland is a great county with stunning coastlines and castles, Stately homes, Hadrians wall, the rolling Cheviot Hills and pleasant market towns (Such as historic Alnwick!), picturesque villages, Northumberland National Park, Kielder Water (the largest man made lake in Europe) and the dynamic city of Newcastle Upon Tyne in easy reach. It's a great place for a short break. |
#3
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Anyone been to Alnwick garden - here is a review
was there in September, still a bit raw but worth a visit for the water
feature alone. Poisonous plants tour fascinating. Tree house a waste of time IMHO Going again in April to see it at the start of the season. JohnT |
#4
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Anyone been to Alnwick garden - here is a review
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:53:54 GMT, John T wrote:
was there in September, still a bit raw but worth a visit for the water feature alone. Poisonous plants tour fascinating. Tree house a waste of time IMHO Going again in April to see it at the start of the season. JohnT I have been several times and each year there is something new. Time your visit to the plants you want to see at their best. They have a good display of delphiniums and other perennials in the top garden. The fountain is spectacular and kids love getting soaked so take a towel. The Tree House is too safe and 'pretty - pretty' to be worth the expense of making it IMO. Having said that you are bound to visit it. If you are 'of an age' and don't have to go in school holidays, it makes it more relaxing. Eating facilities are good, but Alnwick has lots of eating places. Homepage here http://www.alnwickgarden.com/ -- Jim S Tyneside UK http://www.jimscott.co.uk |
#5
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Anyone been to Alnwick garden - here is a review
I would totally recommend Alnwick Garden. There is plenty to see and do for
the admission charge compared with other attractions of similar cost (particularly as the children get in free.) The kids loved the treehouse, although I would agree that apart from the rope bridge, it is too big and solid to really feel like a treehouse. The fountains to the right of the main cascade are really imaginative, as well as educational (demonstrating various phenomena of water spreading over surfaces and edges), but the kids will end up drenched. The walled garden at the top has good collections and more water. The trained hedges (hornbeam?) all the way up the slope provide shade and shelter, and on an impressive scale. There are no-step routes to everything ( long slopes!). I did find some of the claims about the poisonous plants a bit far-fetched, but entertaining. I went to school in Alnwick, and do believe there was Marijuana cultivation in the town long before Her Grace got in on the act. Alnwick Garden does, however, have its local detractors (e.g. my parents, who have *never* been and won't go "On Principle"), who claim that the Garden is bleeding the town dry, taking trade from all the restaurants, not employing locals etc. But apart from the garden the town's main tourist attraction , and I reckon the only place likely to lose out in competition for day-trip visitors, is the castle - part of the same family's estate - and with both to visit it is worth staying longer than a day. Duncan "Jim S" wrote in message ... On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:53:54 GMT, John T wrote: was there in September, still a bit raw but worth a visit for the water feature alone. Poisonous plants tour fascinating. Tree house a waste of time IMHO Going again in April to see it at the start of the season. JohnT I have been several times and each year there is something new. Time your visit to the plants you want to see at their best. They have a good display of delphiniums and other perennials in the top garden. The fountain is spectacular and kids love getting soaked so take a towel. The Tree House is too safe and 'pretty - pretty' to be worth the expense of making it IMO. Having said that you are bound to visit it. If you are 'of an age' and don't have to go in school holidays, it makes it more relaxing. Eating facilities are good, but Alnwick has lots of eating places. Homepage here http://www.alnwickgarden.com/ -- Jim S Tyneside UK http://www.jimscott.co.uk |
#6
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Anyone been to Alnwick garden - here is a review
"Duncan" wrote in message ... I would totally recommend Alnwick Garden. There is plenty to see and do for the admission charge compared with other attractions of similar cost SWMBO and I went last year, we would highly recommend it to anyone, the castle is worth a visit as well. Mike www.farend.org.uk |
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