The RHS is to create a new 156-acre garden in the North West as part its wider vision to enrich the nation through plants.
Work at Worsley New Hall, Salford, will include restoring the 10-acre Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the UK’s biggest, recreating features such as the avenue of trees on the Garden Approach and recovering lost terraces.
RHS Garden Bridgewater, which is due to open in 2019, will also have a learning centre for schools, a plant centre and a personal RHS garden advice service.
“The development of the RHS’ new fifth garden will be the biggest hands-on gardening project the charity will have undertaken in its 211-year history,” said RHS Vice President and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh. “Watching how RHS Garden Bridgewater takes shape and grows is going to be fascinating, especially some of the major restoration projects like the Walled Kitchen Garden.”
The project, part of a £100m investment by the society over the next 10 years, is a collaboration between the RHS, Salford City Council and Peel Land and Property and work is due to begin this year. The garden will join the RHS’ existing group of gardens: Wisley in Surrey; Hyde Hall in Essex; Rosemoor in Devon and Harlow Carr in Yorkshire.