One of the most heartfelt expressions of this is our Drop-In Centre, which this year proudly marks its 10th anniversary. Situated in the middle of our courtyard, it has become a fundamental part of The Garden and represents everything we are passionate about creating: community, companionship and celebration.

Established by the Duchess of Northumberland with a clear and powerful mission, the Centre aims to combat loneliness and isolation by providing a safe space for people in their later years to connect. So far, we have had 50,000 visits from members of the local community, an astounding achievement of which we are extremely proud.

The Centre is designed to feel familiar and comfortable, much like sitting down in the home of a friend. Its creation and evolution have been a collaborative effort, and we would like to give our thanks to all those who have been involved in this journey.

In particular, we express our gratitude to the Stuart Halbert Foundation, whose generous donations were invaluable in helping us achieve the safe, inviting space we envisioned.

What truly makes this venue special is the people – thanks to our dedicated volunteers and extraordinary visitors, it is always filled with laughter and conversation. However, there is one individual without whom this would not have been possible: our beloved volunteer, Sue. Her kindness and passion know no bounds and have profoundly impacted the lives of so many. She truly embodies the spirit of this project, and we are exceptionally grateful for her contribution.

If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from visiting our Drop In Centre, we would love to welcome you. We are open every Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and can guarantee there will be a friendly face waiting to greet you.

At The Alnwick Garden, we’re joining thousands across the country in taking part in “No Mow May”—and it’s not just about letting the grass grow. There’s a deeper reason behind it, and it ties beautifully into our ethos of sustainability, biodiversity, and working with nature, not against it.

May is a critical month for our local wildlife. After a long winter and a dry spring, it’s a time when pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths and other insects start to emerge from hibernation, looking for food and a place to call home. By letting our lawns and grassy areas grow a little wild, we’re giving them just that—nectar-rich flowers for feeding, and shelter to breed and lay eggs. In turn, these insects support the food chain, feeding birds and other animals, helping to build a healthy, resilient ecosystem.

You might also notice how lush and green the grass at Alnwick looks right now. Our longer, denser grass acts like a sponge, holding onto moisture, capturing carbon, and creating a more vibrant and alive space for all to enjoy. It’s nature doing what nature does best – wearing its green stripes well, and in my opinion, it looks all the better for it.

On a practical note, our ride-on mowers are currently getting their annual tune-up. We’re sharpening the blades, checking the kit, and making sure everything is safe, road-legal and ready for the season ahead. It’s a perfect moment to pause mowing—and let nature step in.

The garden team and I are aware also that gardening, horticulture, and the botanical sciences are full of different opinions, and that’s part of what makes it beautiful. But here at The Alnwick Garden, we’re trying to balance both the science and the soul of the place—responding to the land, the seasons, and the life that depends on it. Our aim is to create a living legacy: a garden that’s not just visually stunning, but ecologically rich and sustainable too.

After all, plants and wildlife isn’t just decoration. They give us the air we breathe and the food we eat. Let’s give them a chance to grow, feed, and flourish.

Mikey Leach, Head Gardener

Introducing our brand new partnership with Fundraise & Recycle!

We’re absolutely delighted to announce our latest collaboration at The Alnwick Garden, as we continue to fulfil our sustainable and charitable goals, by encouraging all of our lovely visitors to recycle used clothing and textiles.

We now have two interactive clothes banks on site, one in the accessible car park and one in the overflow car park where we are encouraging you, yes you, to drop off the bits you no longer need. All of the donated clothes allow us to raise funds for our charity whilst recycling and helping people who need it the most.

These aren’t just any clothes banks, they’re incredibly state of the art and beautiful, with digital data trackers, a charity profile and even the ability to talk to you, yes, you read that right! The incredible team at Fundraise & Recycle help charities, schools and community groups to fulfil their fundraising goals and have already raised nearly £500,000 and counting.

Look out for further information about how you can help us to meet our ambitions to fundraise to support our community and education programmes but for now, here’s some helpful links:

Our Profile

About Fundraise & Recycle

Sponsor one of our Clothes Banks

Start a campaign

To learn more about our Charity, click here

Registered Charity Number: 1095435

We’re delighted to announce our brand new corporate partnership, as The Alnwick Garden teams up with locally loved, family-run firm Blueline Taxis.

The team at Blueline Taxis, are committed to making your journey comfortable, convenient, stress-free and, with shared goals, values and a community focus, they are the perfect pairing as the latest travel partner to come ‘on board’ with us.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be running joint offers, competitions and collaborations but for now, here’s a little more insight into why Blueline are the peoples choice when it comes to local private travel.

Driving a greener future

An alignment of goals, values and beliefs are essential in any successful partnerships and, just like The Alnwick Garden, Blueline are committed to reducing their environmental impact and promoting sustainability within their operations. The Blueline Green Policy reflects their dedication to a greener future and outlines the steps they take to ensure our services are eco-friendly.

Each year, Blueline serve over 10,608,000 passengers throughout the region, boasting an exceptional 99.7% satisfaction rating.

Their fleet of modern, eco-friendly vehicles ensures every journey is safe, comfortable, and efficient and we can’t wait to be teaming up with their 800 drivers to ensure visitors get to and from The Garden and Lilidorei.

For the community

The Alnwick Garden is more than a garden and Blueline is more than just a transportation service; like us, they’re deeply ingrained in our community. They proudly support and collaborate with local charities, working together to make a positive impact in the lives of those they serve. Blueline’s commitment to diversity and inclusion extends to their strong track record in supporting LGBT and disability rights – causes that are close to our hearts at The Garden too and integral to our company values.

“As North East England’s leading taxi firm, we’re incredibly proud to become an official transport partner for The Alnwick Garden,” said Tom Shanks, Director at Blueline Taxis. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our shared values – from our growing fleet of low-emission vehicles matching their sustainability goals, to our mutual focus on accessibility and creating welcoming experiences for all visitors. Whether it’s families enjoying a day out or tourists exploring the region, we’re committed to providing reliable, environmentally-conscious transport that complements the Garden’s world-class offering.”

Thank you so much to the team at Blueline Taxis, we’re excited to see where our partnership takes us!

Having worked for the likes of Kew Gardens and Monty Don, Mikey brings with him energy, a deep passion for horticulture, and a fresh perspective of what The Garden could be. 

“As Head Gardener at The Alnwick Garden, I am excited to bring my skills and experience to this iconic destination. I am keen to build on The Garden’s rich history while exploring innovative approaches to horticulture, ensuring it continues to inspire and engage visitors for years to come” Mikey explains.

Since joining us, Mikey has already begun transforming our outdoor spaces into thriving ecosystems. With a deep understanding of botanical intricacies and a creative vision, he champions sustainable gardening that nurtures both the plants, wildlife and people’s well-being.

“Ultimately, I find real satisfaction in knowing that my work creates a space where people can connect with the natural world, experience its beauty, and take a moment to pause and reflect. It’s this connection between plants, people, and place that makes my role so meaningful to me” Mikey says.

Under Mikey’s leadership, the gardening team has been hard at work rejuvenating the rose beds in the Ornamental Garden. After identifying that the reduced vigour and stunted growth of the roses were likely caused by soil-borne pathogens, as well as the natural decline of aging plants, he has focused not on short-term fixes but on designing a replanting strategy to ensure the next generation of roses thrives for the next 20 to 25 years.

Rather than attempting soil remediation, Mikey made the strategic decision to remove the affected roses. As a result, the rose beds in the Ornamental Garden have been dug out, with the soil removed and replaced to a depth of 50cm. This was done to eliminate any contamination and give the newly planted roses the best chance of thriving.

The refreshed beds are being replanted with 320 fresh roses, generously donated by David Austin Roses, the creators of The Alnwick Garden Rose.

Mikey believes that gardening isn’t just about maintenance, it’s about understanding and working with nature. By carefully selecting new rose varieties, improving soil health, and giving the plants the best possible start, he’s setting The Garden up for long-term success.

“If you look after a garden and really pay attention to what it’s telling you, you learn so much from it,” Mikey says. “And in return, it gives so much back to you.” His approach is one of patience and dedication, ensuring that the rose beds will continue to be a centrepiece of The Garden for years to come.

When asked what he was most excited to see in bloom in The Garden, Mikey’s answer was as quick as a flash, the 7ft Himalayan Lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum). But what we’re all most looking forward to, is seeing how Mikey continues to transform The Garden into a diverse and thriving ecosystem for everyone to enjoy. With his knowledge, passion, and hands-on approach, the future of The Garden has never looked greener. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, stay tuned for more of Mikey’s expert gardening tips and tricks, as well as plenty of inspiration from Mikey’s wisdom and hands-on experience.

The Big January Clean Up is our way of preparing The Garden for another year of magic, and it would not be possible without the incredible support of our corporate volunteers.

This year, we have been thrilled to welcome teams from amazing organisations like RBC Brewin Dolphin, Atkins Realis, Newcastle Building Society, Reheat, Worldpay, and Vodafone.

These superstar volunteers traded their usual office spaces for pruners, gloves, and the satisfaction of making a difference. And they have not had it easy; our new Head Gardener, Mike Leach, has had our volunteers suited and booted, tidying and trimming to helping with vital maintenance.

Beyond the hard work, these corporate volunteers have helped create feel-good PR stories that shine a light on their community spirit while supporting the garden’s ongoing charity mission. It’s been a win-win for everyone involved, and we could not be more grateful!

To all the incredible teams who’ve rolled up their sleeves for us this January, thank you! You’re making a huge impact, and we couldn’t do it without you.

To learn more about this wonderful initiative, check out the full story here.

The Alnwick Garden Trust is pleased to announce that King Charles has expressed his intention to continue his patronage of the Northumberland charity. This decision comes as part of a broader review of royal patronages by Buckingham Palace, which has seen the King and other senior British royals streamline their commitments.

Despite reducing the patronages of almost 200 charities and organisations, King Charles has maintained a special connection with The Alnwick Garden, which he officially opened in 2002. His Majesty has visited the garden multiple times, with visits in 2012, 2015, and most recently in 2018. In total, over 830 organisations have been retained by King Charles and Queen Camilla or redistributed among other royal family members. The Alnwick Garden remains proudly within the King’s portfolio. During his 2018 visit, King Charles shared his admiration for Northumberland and The Alnwick Garden, stating:

“For me coming here to Northumberland, which is such a special county, all I can say is it makes me unbelievably proud just to see what you’re all doing and the way in which you help to keep this county so very special. This remarkable place and this garden, of which I’ve been a patron for quite a long time, I know this whole operation here has made a huge difference to the whole area so I also wanted to pay my compliments to the Duchess for what she does.”

Since opening, The Alnwick Garden has attracted over seven million visitors and contributed £347m towards the local economy and its onsite community programmes. It boasts the largest collection of Tai Haku cherry blossoms in the world, as well as hosting the deadliest garden – The Poison Garden, which is used to educate visitors on the dangers of plants and illegal drugs deriving from some of the plants. Each year The Garden reviews its education and social programmes to ensure the Trust fulfills its public benefit requirement and identifies any emerging issues that are facing the local community.

The vast and diverse range of community programmes reflects The Alnwick Garden’s commitment to creating a positive impact on society, providing platforms for social interaction and engaging communities from different backgrounds, including its longest running programme, The Elderberries, combating loneliness for the over 55’s and a range of specialist education and youth programmes.

Mark Brassell, Chief Executive of The Alnwick Garden, said; “His Majesty has always shown a great amount of affection for The Alnwick Garden and all of our community engagement programmes.

“It is a great honour that His Majesty will continue his patronage of The Alnwick Garden Trust and we remain grateful for his ongoing support and look forward to welcoming him back in the future.”

Following the success of its Poison Garden gin, released last year, The Alnwick Garden has released 250 bottles of the special beverage for enthusiasts and collectors to enjoy.

Inspired by The Garden’s beautiful landscape of 329 Taihaku trees, which bloom every spring, the gin encapsulates the blossom’s key floral botanicals with notes of citrus, elderflower and ginger – perfectly paired with a classic tonic or soda so the fruity undertones take centre stage.

Victoria Watson, strategic head of catering, retail and hospitality at The Alnwick Garden, said: “The Taihaku cherry blossom is synonymous with Japan, where ‘Hanami’ is celebrated every spring and people gather to enjoy the ‘transient beauty of flowers’. 

“In Japan, cherry blossoms have a deep cultural significance, representing exquisite beauty and the fragility of life.

“By capturing the floral taste and smell of flowers in the gin, we hope to bring the magic of the orchard to life.”

Produced by the award-winning distillery, Durham Distillers, the limited edition gin is a sensory journey of unique flavour and is available to buy from The Alnwick Garden gift shop for £35 per bottle.

Ioanna Chatzi, head distiller at Durham Distilleries, said: “By making this one-off gin, we’ll bring a taste of the Japanese Hanami spring festival to gin lovers across the UK.

“Inspired by the celebration, during which people gather to appreciate nature and enjoy cherry blossom-themed dishes, this drink is a great way to pay homage to the orchard and its ethereal beauty.”

The Cherry Blossom Gin is available to buy now at www.thepinery.co.uk, at The Alnwick Garden Shop, and available to order at The Treehouse Restaurant.