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Alnwick poison garden

Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149
in Plants

We are taking a road trip from Sussex to Scotland (Edinburgh) on Saturday and on the way we are going to visit this garden, I am so excited as I've always wanted to go there. Has anyone else been?

We may take in in some other gardens if anyone has any recommendations.

https://www.alnwickgarden.com/explore/whats-here/the-poison-garden

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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857

    I went to Alnwick about 13 years ago when the amazing water feature was brand spanking new and they were still building the tree house.   They had the poison garden and a rose garden but have expanded and improved and added since then.

    Enjoy.  It's a great place to visit.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • chris 172chris 172 Posts: 403

    Hi Lou12

    Although not the correct time for their best both Wallington Hall and Cragside both National Trust properties are fantastic, which are both on the way to ALnwick.

    Wallington Hall just outside Ponteland and Cragside Rothbury which is only a short drive across the moors to Alnwick which if fine the scenery is breath taking.

    Enjoy your trip and don't forget to come back coz once you have been to Northumberland you will want to return as there is so much to see and admire

    Happy gardening

  • daisy doodaisy doo Posts: 90

    It's absolutely fantastic, well worth a visit. We live in co Durham so not too far away and plan on visiting again this year. We did both the gardens and the castle (seperate entry price) as my son liked Harry potter but as young as he was he enjoyed the gardens with the water fountains. As someone already mentioned nearby cragside is also worth visiting, both Northumberland and nearby co Durham have both lots to offera and stunning scenery.

    Hope you enjoy ????

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857

    Both are beautiful counties with lovely coastlines and long beaches.  Try and make a detour along the coast by Seahouses and Bamburgh castle.   Lots of fabulous countryside inland too.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,247

    Loved Alnwick gardens when we went 2 or 3 years ago. The water features & gardens are fantastic.

    We went in late June though. The delphinium beds were spectacular, the large rose garden was a treat and the poison garden was really interesting.

    The poison garden is, however,  relatively small - so you might want to make sure there's enough other stuff out at this time of year to make it worth the entrance fee. We got a discount - can't remember if it was for being NT or Eng Her members - but always worth asking - RHS too maybe if you're a member of that.

    I can thoroughly recommend a trip to Eggleston Hall Gardens. Much smaller cottage garden style - but only £2.50 entrance (honesty box). Excellent large nursery and tea room (good lunch) attached and a fairly eccentric head gardener! 

    If you don't have time to visit the garden itself do at least look at the website and click on the Garden Journal. A bit out of date but it made me laugh - especially the description of the various pests which attack baby plants!

    http://www.egglestonhallgardens.co.uk/about-us.php

     

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • daisy doodaisy doo Posts: 90

    If you can do a detour into Durham there's crook hall gardens and Durham botanical gardens also, both well worth visiting. Mind at this rate with all the places mentioned you might not make it to Scotland! image  Scotland has loads of great places too, cor choices choices

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,247

    Oh - have to recommend the crab stotties (baps) at The Ship - lovely old special pub & brewery near the beach at Low Newton 

    http://www.shipinnnewton.co.uk/#_=_

     

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    Thanks everyone for your wonderful suggestions. Pu and brewery Topbird now you're talking our language and we love crab too image

    How weird is this, I bought Gardners World this morning and there is a two for one entry offer to Alnwick gardens (amongst others). i was thrilled as £22 for both of us seemed a bit expensive for us for May when not much is out.

    There were also a pair of gardening gloves exactly my size and some packets of seeds I was actually considering buying - poppies, sunflowers and the like.

    So thank you very much Gardners World image

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,247

    Excellent  image 

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,584

    We went to the poison garden in the summer months a few years back and it seemed small and badly stocked then so I'm not sure you will find too much there at this time of year. The cannabis plant was stuck in a cage and appeared to be male to reduce the chance of garden visitors getting too relaxed. The rest of the garden was okay though.

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