The Alnwick Garden

Swipe right to take a trip back in time… 👀✨

This year, The Alnwick Garden celebrates 25 years of growth, transformation, and unforgettable memories 🌿

Back in 1996, the Duchess of Northumberland had a vision, to breathe life back into a once-forgotten landscape.

By 1997, renowned designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz were commissioned, and construction began on what would become one of the UK’s most iconic gardens 🤩

After years of neglect following the Second World War, the site was in a state of disrepair. But over three years, phase one of the restoration slowly brought The Garden back to life 🌱✨

Then, in 2001, we welcomed our very first visitors to explore the brand-new Rose Garden, Ornamental Garden, and the stunning Sage Wealth Management Grand Cascade 🌹

Fast forward 25 years, and those once-young plants and trees now stand tall and thriving. The landscape is bursting with colour in the summer sunshine, and every pathway tells part of the story of how far we’ve come.

From neglected grounds to a place filled with beauty, imagination, and millions of memories made, what a journey it’s been and we can't wait to see what the future holds! 💫⛲️

We need your vote! 🌟

We’re incredibly proud to share that The Treehouse Restaurant has been nominated for North East Restaurant of the Year in the My Local Awards 2026 🎉

From cosy lunches and celebration dinners to magical evenings amongst the trees, thank you to everyone who has supported us and made memories at The Treehouse over the years 🍃

If you’ve ever enjoyed dining with us, we’d be so grateful if you could take a moment to vote for The Treehouse. Every single vote means the world to our wonderful team 🌿

Thank you for all your continued support, and for helping our little restaurant in the trees shine ✨

🔗 Vote now: https://mylocalawards.co.uk/business/the-treehouse-restaurant-at-the-alnwick-garden/?utm_source=Unknown+List&utm_campaign=03e97f86bd-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_27_08_48&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-03e97f86bd-

A familiar face has returned to the branches of our oldest tree… 🦉✨

We’re delighted to share that our beloved Wise Old Owl is once again watching over The Garden after a beautiful restoration by the incredibly talented Sheila Abercrombie, who is one of our Elderberries! 🌿

Originally created in 2018, as part of our charitable missions with the Blooming Well group, the willow owl quickly became a much-loved feature and talking point for visitors. After sadly falling into disrepair, the owl has now been carefully and lovingly brought back to life, with new feathers, a reshaped structure, and plenty of patience and care along the way.

Thanks to Sheila, her grandchildren, and our brilliant team here at The Garden, the Wise Old Owl is proudly perched once again in the branches of our oldest tree, alongside a beautiful new sign crafted from locally sourced Northumbrian oak 🍃

A huge thank you to everyone involved in restoring this special piece of The Garden’s story! ⛲️💫

Be sure to stop by and say hello to our wise old friend on your next visit!

Swipe to see the during and after photos 📸

No, this isn’t something out of Jack and the Beanstalk, this is our Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) sprouting again for the first time in 3 years! 😳

Nicknamed the plant that gives you “vampire skin”, its toxic sap can strip away your skin’s natural UV protection, meaning sunlight can cause severe blistering burns ☀️⚠️

This dangerous plant is one of the most talked about species inside The Poison Garden, and our gardeners have to wear full protective clothing when working near it 👀🌿

Giant Hogweed is also scarily common across the UK and can often be found along coastlines, roadsides and riverbanks. If you spot it growing in public areas, contact your local council so it can be safely removed.

The last time our Giant Hogweed flowered was in 2023, when it reached a whopping 10ft 4 inches or 315 cm 😱

But this summer… how big will it get? 🤔🌱

Guess the final height correctly and you could WIN two tickets to Winter Light Trail at The Alnwick Garden & Lilidorei this December ✨

Drop your guesses below ⬇️

Right now, our Laburnum tree is glowing GOLDEN in The Poison Garden ✨🌼

Known as the “Golden Chain Tree”, Laburnum became hugely popular across the UK thanks to its beautiful cascading yellow flowers. Following the war, it was widely planted in public spaces, parks and even schools to help brighten up urban areas.

But behind the sunshine-yellow blooms hides a much darker story… ☠️

Every part of the tree is poisonous, but the greatest danger comes later in the season when it develops hanging seed pods that closely resemble peas.

As part of the pea family, these pods can look harmless to children, but they contain a toxic alkaloid called cytisine, which can cause serious poisoning if ingested.

During the 1970s, growing numbers of poisonings and hospitalisations linked to Laburnum led many schools, parks and public spaces to remove the trees altogether.

While Laburnum was never banned in the UK, awareness around its dangers dramatically changed how and where it was planted, with some councils restricting where the plant can be placed!

Today, many of these striking trees still remain across Britain, continuing to catch the eye every spring with their dazzling golden flowers, and adding a much needed pop of colour to our Poison Garden in the late spring 💛

Could you be our new Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager? 💚

We're delighted to be expanding the Philanthropy & Partnerships team here at The Garden, driving income through innovative fundraising activity, and enhancing engagement with our charitable mission.

The Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager will play a key role in developing and delivering a diverse and sustainable fundraising programme for The Alnwick Garden.

Working closely with our Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the post holder will lead on individual giving initiatives, support the growth of high-value donor and corporate relationships, and contribute to the planning and delivery of impactful fundraising campaigns and events.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive fundraiser to shape and grow individual giving, corporate and fundraising initiatives within a unique and creative charitable environment.

Link for more info and to apply 👉 https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=97fded2680826eaa&from=shareddesktop_copy

Earlier this week, we welcomed the cast of Little Shop of Horrors to The Alnwick Garden, and they brought along a plant with a taste that felt right at home in The Poison Garden 🪴👀

We had a great time welcoming Seymour Krelborn and learning more about his strange and exotic plant with a sinister secret… it thrives on human blood! 😱

You can catch this darkly hilarious cult-classic musical at Northern Stage now until 23rd May, where Seymour’s fame and fortune begin to grow alongside the plant’s terrifying appetite, but at what cost?

Featuring unforgettable songs, larger-than-life characters and plenty of unexpected laughs, this is one show you won’t want to miss 🤩✨

Thank you to the cast and crew for visiting us, and for keeping Audrey II well away from the gardeners 👀🌱

Grab your tickets here: https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/little-shop-of-horrors/

Please help us win £5,000 to support vulnerable children across Northumberland. Sparing 1 minute to nominate us as part of The Benefact Movement for Good funding could change lives.

Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, happy, and full of confidence.

Right now, too many children are facing the devastating physical and emotional effects of childhood obesity, affecting not only their health, but their self esteem, mental wellbeing, and future opportunities.

A £5,000 award would help The Alnwick Garden towards delivering our life changing Roots & Shoots Programme, giving children and families from deprived areas the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make healthier choices for life.

Through hands on gardening, children experience the joy of growing their own food, tasting fresh fruits and vegetables, getting active outdoors, and learning that healthy living can be fun, achievable, and empowering. For some children, this programme is the first time they’ve planted a seed, harvested fresh produce, or felt proud of making positive choices about their own wellbeing.

Your vote could help us continue this vital work to change the course of a child's future. Please spare 60 seconds to vote for us to receive £5,000, using the link, and help us give more children the opportunity to thrive.

Link for voting: https://movementforgood.com/draws/special/health-wellbeing/?cn=1095435&ct=health

The Wisteria is beginning to bloom beautifully in The Ornamental Garden 💜

Gently draping over the historic brick arches, the Wisteria sinensis ‘Alba’ creates a breathtaking frame around our iconic 16th Century Venetian Gates, and is a sure sign that summer at The Alnwick Garden is just around the corner 👀🌼

Native to China and loved for its elegant cascading flowers and delicate fragrance, wisteria only blooms for a short window each year, meaning you'll have to pop in soon to see it at it's best 🤩

When The Duchess began creating The Alnwick Garden in 2000, the Venetian Gates were rediscovered leaning against a wall in the then-barren Ornamental Garden. Originally brought over from Italy by the 4th Duke of Northumberland in the mid-1800s, the gates have since become one of The Garden’s most photographed landmarks 📸✨

Over the past 25 years, millions of visitors have passed through them, appearing in family photos, engagement shoots, holiday snapshots and countless memories made at The Garden ⛲️🌿

Swipe through to see photos of the original gates before the development of The Garden, featuring The Duchess of Northumberland and garden designers Louis Benech, Peter Wirtz, and Tadao Ando.

Do you have a favourite photo of the gates over the years? Share it with us in the comments 👇