Vision in Bloom

Wednesday, 25th April 2007

THE ALNWICK GARDEN

Once upon a time, the Duchess of Northumberland had a grand vision, of a magical garden open for everyone to enjoy. After ten years of hard work and dedication her dream is coming true, in the
shape of The Alnwick Garden.

Long before she became a Duchess, Lady Jane Percy was a devoted gardener. Her interest began in childhood and she pursued it with a passion until 1995, when her husband Ralph became the 12th Duke of Northumberland and moved with Lady Jane and their four children to the family seat at Alnwick Castle. "I'd created a beautiful garden where we lived and was loath to leave," she says.

"My husband suggested that I could use the derelict walled area at Alnwick Castle to make another garden. This gave me the idea to create a public garden that could be enjoyed by people of all ages, and the project quickly snowballed..."

Indeed it did. After an immense amount of planning and fundraising Lady Jane chose the world-renowned Belgian designers Jacques and Peter Wirtz to interpret her vision, and since then the original 12-acre site has been transformed into what leading international architect Sir Michael Hopkins describes as "an extraordinary achievement". Sir Michael's own design contribution, the glittering glass Pavilion and Visitor Centre, provides state-of-the-art facilities in which to eat, shop and view the garden in all weather, overlooking the largest water feature in the country. The aim of the Duchess was always to create more than just a garden, and already The Alnwick Garden has become recognized not only for horticultural excellence but also for using its resources to provide real, measurable benefit for people. One aspect that the Duchess is particularly proud of is its educational policy, and she cites an example in the Poison Garden. "There is a fine line between plants that kill and those that heal, and by using the killer theme children are far more
likely to show an interest, which can then be developed," she explains. "It also enables the Garden to promote a Drugs Awareness Scheme."

In spring and early summer Lady Jane likes nothing more than a stroll among the delphiniums in the Ornamental Garden, yet even then she never stops thinking ahead. The Garden is a charity and The Alnwick Garden Trust is constantly fundraising to complete the final phase by 2008. "It will be a tremendous achievement for all involved," she says, "and then I will be looking for a new challenge, whatever that may be."