************* Garden Owners, Please copy this information and paste it into an email to: wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us. Regards, Armchair Travel Co Ltd http://www.armchair-travel.com ************* Garden Name: The Alnwick Garden Last Modified: 09/02/2010 Garden ID: 0494 pic: 0494_Alnwick.jpg Owner: John Lovett Address: off Denwick Lane Alnwick Postcode: NE66 1YU County: Northumberland tel: 01665 511350 fax: 01665 511351 website: www.alnwickgarden.com email: clareralph {at} alnwickgarden.com Features: Grand cascade - dramatic sequences of water and light. One of the largest tree houses in the world. In 2008, an orchard featuring hundreds of Tai Haku cherry trees underplanted with bulbs is being planted, and will be accessible to visitors in spring 2009. English Heritage Grade: Opening Times: Every day except Christmas Day; Summer, Apr - Sept; 10am - 6pm; Winter, Oct - Mar; 10am - 4pm; Last admissions 45 mins. before closing Best Times of Year to Visit: Spring, Summer and Autumn To see: "The Alnwick Rose", climbers on the pergolas, hornbeams. National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: No Comments: Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: House Open for Viewing: No Comments: Admission Prices: Summer season: Adult £9.50; Concessions £7.20; Children Free (when accompanied by an adult - up to 4 per adult); Combined Garden & Castle tickets: Adult £19.80; Concessions £16.80; Children £5.50 Groups 14+ Adult £6.90pp, Child free; Combined Garden & Castle; Adult £14.70, Child £4.50 Winter season: Adult £7.20; Concessions £6.50; Children Free (when accompanied by an adult - up to 4 per adult) Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: No Only on Lead: No Events: Yes Other Facilities: During the day, visitors must hold a valid admissions ticket for The Garden to eat, drink and shop in The Treehouse and The Pavilion. Tickets are not required in The Visitor Centre. Designer: Wirtz International N.V Description of Garden: This developing garden is the inspiration of Jane, Duchess of Northumberland whose vision is to develop it into a contemporary garden that integrates water and light into a theatre of gardens. Its dramatic main feature is the Grand Cascade which is a magnificent tumbling mass of water ending in an eruption of fountains sending 350 litres of water into the air every second. The sequence lasts 12 minutes. Above the Grand Cascade is the Ornamental Garden, a symmetrical, structured garden with a strong European influence, utilising box and yew. There are places to sit and catch the sun, with inviting doorways on to flower beds and golden amber coloured paths past lavender and fruit trees. The Rose Garden is a gentle mixture of pergola paths and grassy walkways covered in shrub and climbing roses mixed with glorious clematis and honeysuckle. Key features are the Treehouse with walkways in the air and an extraordinary place to eat, the Poison Garden, the Serpent Garden with its water sculptures from William Pye and the Bamboo Labyrinth. The vast Pavilion and Visitor Centre are stunning contemporary buildings by Sir Michael Hopkins, with space to eat, shop, learn and sit down. The Alnwick Garden opened to the paying public in April 2002 and was soon overwhelmed by its success. Receiving more than 500,000 visitors in 2003, The Alnwick Garden is the third most visited paid-for garden in the UK. History: The Garden is the 7th on this site, which is set alongside the Capability Brown landscape of the grounds of Alnwick Castle. (Details of its antecedents are available on request). Designed by Wirtz International N.V., the Alnwick Garden is the first UK commission of this internationally renowned Belgian landscape garden practice. Local Inns: Alnwick Town centre - 200 metres from garden. Accomodation: Restaurants: Village/Town/Sightseeing: Alnwick was judged best town for life-style by "Country Life" on 31st Oct 2002.