Image credit: Harris Bugg
Today, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announces that its fifth garden and first new garden for nearly two decades, RHS Garden Bridgewater, is opening to the public from Thursday, 30 July 2020.
The creation of RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, is one of the most significant events in the Society’s 215-year history. Once open, the garden will bring world-class horticulture within an hour’s journey of 8.2 million people in the region.
RHS Director General, Sue Biggs; “I am thrilled to be able to announce the opening date for the first phase of RHS Garden Bridgewater. To mark this momentous occasion, there will be a ten-day opening programme of events and celebrations at Bridgewater in August.”
When the RHS first discovered the 154-acre site, the former grounds of Worsley New Hall had not been cultivated for decades. Thanks to a dedicated and growing team and the help of hundreds of local volunteers, the site is transforming and is currently the biggest project of its kind in Europe.
World-renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith created the Bridgewater masterplan. Its centrepiece, the 11-acre Weston Walled Garden, is one of the UK’s biggest, measuring the size of six football pitches and comprising 11 gardens, including the Paradise Garden, Kitchen Garden, Wellbeing Garden and Community grow spaces.
Head of RHS Garden Bridgewater, Richard Green, adds; “We still have a tremendous amount of work to do before opening but thanks to a brilliant team; amazing local support; generous donations from multiple supporters, partners and members, we are on track and look forward to welcoming visitors this summer.”
RHS Garden Bridgewater is creating almost one hundred jobs, from tree surgeons to therapists, as well as apprenticeships and learning opportunities. Up to 7,000 local schoolchildren will benefit free-of-charge each year from having this abundant, green learning resource on their doorstep.
The garden will continue to grow with further investment into ambitious future plans, including an arboretum, a Northern College of Horticulture, an architecturally stunning glasshouse and renovation of the lost Nesfield terraces.
The garden is enabled by Salford City Council and Peel L&P. Charitable funding to create the garden has been given by a number of funders.* More information on supporting the project can be found here.
Tickets will be on sale later this spring. Entry will be free to RHS members and will initially cost less than £10 for non-members. All Salford residents will be able to access the garden for free every Tuesday for the first year.