RHS Garden Bridgewater

In Brief.

The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Garden Bridgewater is a modern take on a walled garden and parkland, with imposing visitor facilities. The Bridgewater Garden is based in the grounds of the now demolished Worsley New Hall, and is renovating and reinterpreting parts of these grounds, including a lake and the walled gardens. There are three main facets to the site: a walled garden including a kitchen garden and a "paradise garden", the wider parkland that includes some themed gardens and woodland, and the visitor centre, with shops, a cafe and a garden centre. What's not to like about the development of a modern garden in a neglected historic site? Alas, having now been twice, I find it a bit soulless; there certainly wasn't much colour on either visit, and even with the guide book to try to bring out the concept on my second trip, the overall project perhaps seems a little worthy but dull. Not as refreshing, for example, as Biddulph Grange.

Water feature in the Paradise Garden

What's Here?

The entrance to the gardens is through the impressive modern visitor centre that includes a checkin area, a sizeable gift/souvenir shop, a cafe and a garden centre.  The gift shop includes a fair number of household items in addition to the expected fare of gardening books, local beer and things for the kids.  To the untrained eye, the garden centre also seemed well stocked with healthy and seasonal looking plants awaiting their doom. The coffee shop, for a decent day, has an outdoor area with views over a pond that was perhaps the high point of both my visits.

Proper crockery (and cakes)

The walled garden is substantial, with the kitchen garden closest to the visitor centre.  This contains a range of spaces growing herbs, fruit trees and assorted vegetables, along with some more densely packed areas that seem to be "forest gardening".  The other walled garden is termed the "paradise garden", pictured above. Around central water features are a collection of, typically densely planted, displays containing Mediterranean and Asian flora.  In early May, this all seemed perfectly civilised, but was not especially colourful.

Beyond the Walled Garden, there is parkland, including a meadow, a wooded area, a Chinese garden following a stream and a nondescript lake.  The meadow lives up to its name.  The Chinese garden is more ambitious, running for a distance around a stream, but has yet to fully bed in and seems a bit sparse.  The woodland has more variety than a plantation, but is certainly more compact and less interesting than a typical walk in a natural woodland, and the orchard has only recently been planted.  One child I passed was quite excited on seeing the play area, with some justification.

A pond in the Chinese Garden

Practicalities.

  • Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 8 miles
  • Drive Time: 25 minutes.
  • Price: $$ (tickets to be purchased before visiting)
  • Parking: Free onsite parking.
  • Food and Drink: A cafe with views of a pond that serves cakes, monster scones and few hot dishes. In my weekday visit, it was quiet in the morning but mobbed for lunchtime. There are other food outlets in other parts of the garden
  • Retail therapy: The Visitor Centre has a souvenir shop with a variety of RHS products, local foodstuffs, books and household items. In addition, appropriately, there is a garden centre with a wide range of plants and associated things for the shed.
  • Child Friendly: There is a substantial rustic play play area in the woods, and places to run around and explore. 
  • Toilets: Yes - and the electronic taps, soap and hand dryers work for now.
  • Do it justice in: 2 hours.
  • Inside-Outside: 10:90

References.

RHS Bridgewater Garden Guide, 2021.
Location: Worsley, Manchester M28 2LJ, UK

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