Open 11-3pm Open Thursdays – Sundays & Bank Holidays
If you’re interested in a group tour/visit in ’26 please contact birkheadsnursery@gmail.com
What do we do in July?
We spend our days improving & changing things in the garden for your next visit, so that there’s always something different to see whenever you visit. We had a complaint this week that the birdsong in the gardens was too loud! The Dawn chorus goes on most of the day here with resident Swallows Swifts, Martins, Linnets, Skylarks, Wagtails spending lots of time feeding over the Plant Sales area. Surprising visitors – a large hare has taken to roaming the Secret gardens, hence the appearance of inverted wire hanging baskets protecting tasty (to hares) plants in borders. The gardens are looking spectacular with Peony roses, Shrub roses, Day Lilies & Delphiniums are the best they’ve ever been. Visitors will notice that we’re extending the sitting area to provide more shade & rain shelter, watch this space…
Would you like to volunteer here?
We provide tools, training & tea! Why not come along on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 9.30-12.30
TO FIND OUT MORE check out VOLUNTEERING Link above.
We have a couple of vacancies for STUDENT PLACEMENTS. If you’re attending East Durham, Newcastle or Northumberland Colleges on Land-based courses contact Christine by email birkheadsnursery@gmail.com for details & we’ll arrange a tour of the gardens to find out how we can help you to achieve your required hours & gain practical experience in our award winning RHS Partner Garden.
MORE AWARD DETAILS ON ‘STOP PRESS’ ON OUR BLOG PAGE ..
RECORDING OF CHRISTINE WITH MARIAN FOSTER, HOST OF BBC RADIO NEWCASTLES ‘GARDEN MANIA’ NOV. 17th. ‘2024
Christine on Radio Nc’le talking Snowdrops with Marion Foster 9am-10pm Sunday 22nd Feb.
NB. FREE ENTRY INTO THE GARDENS FOR RHS MEMBERS ON THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS DURING ’26 (Not applicable for group visits)
TEAM BIRKHEADS BELOW CELEBRATING OUR RHS AWARD on Sunday eve after the surprise announcement from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). #RHS.org.Partner Gardens
(The Royal Horticultural Society is the lead authority & on all things green & does amazing work on everyone’s behalf, seed collection for an international seed store, scientific research, training professional gardeners, etc.)
Volunteer Opportunities. If you’d like to join team birkheads we have a few vacancies available on our Wednesday Gardening Club 9.30.am-1pm. If you’re fit enough to manage a wheelbarrow, enjoy spending time in all weathers, have practical skills or perhaps your a keen gardener without a garden & would like to help us keep this garden beautiful whenever your other commitments allow, we have a small group of volunteers who are very much appreciated & describe Birkheads as their ‘Happy Place”
We provide tools & training where necessary & work alongside our volunteers. #Horticultural students especially welcome, we can help you improve your practical skills & fulfil your course quota hours. We registered with #Northumberland College of Horticulture for this. See VOLUNTEERS PAGE. Email or text Christine for brief application details. birkheadsnursery@gmail.com or 07778447920.
#Hedgehogs
Another 4 hedgehogs have joined Dimitri & Athena last month & have settled in well since they’ve been released into our gardens & Wildlife Corridor – Tawny Owls are noisy this week we hope that they’re viewing vacant properties in our garden. Red kites & Sparrow Hawks are spotted daily. Deer & Geese are still in the field adjoining us.
POP UP Events. If you’re on our e-newsletter mailing list you’ll be notified of all future events. Why not leave your email address in the ‘send newsletter’ box below or check here on Fridays?
Why not visit in spring ; – The coffee shop gardens are accessible to thirsty dogs & their owners – one family pet welcome – on a short lead please.
SOCIETIES / GROUPS (see GROUPS page) must be pre booked so that we can reserve multiple parking / coach places. Large groups please avoid Sundays. #Cycling Clubs welcome at any time we’re open. We’ve just installed bike racks for 8 cycles – next to outdoor covered coffee area. If you like what we’re doing why not tag us into your posts/selfies
The Secret Gardens were created by the present owners Christine & Mike Liddle working to improve the environment left by a heritage of coal mining and intensive farming. The gardens are a series of 14 inspirational gardens within a large rural garden, displaying a wide variety of hardy plants to provide colour, scent etc. to suit the wide range of diverse conditions found here.
The 3 acre gardens are situated in rural Gateshead between Beamish Open Air Museum & the Tanfield Steam Railway.
You can enjoy the gardens, enjoy the views & look for inspiration.
WHY NOT check out this ‘FABULOUS NORTH review ? https://fabulousnorth.com/birkheads-secret-garden
VIEW OUR COOKIES AND PRIVACY POLICY
