SEPTEMBER ’26

Open Thursdays – Sundays                            Free Entry Heritage Open Days 17th,18th,19th & 20th. 11-3pm.   

Visitors for the next few weeks will notice that we have a collection box for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a wonderful cause that improves life & independence for the visually impaired. They are able to take foreign coins, & out of date uk currency and of course any loose change you have lying around! Dogs on short leads are welcome here in the outdoor gardens & sitting areas but only guide dogs are allowed inside the coffee shop.   PS Why not try our Heritage Apples &  leave a donation?                                                                     

What do we do in September? 

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. The gardens are looking really lovely, lots of colour, flowers & wildlife. Look out for Colchicums in the Meadows. Recent visitors will notice that we’ve extending the covered outdoor sitting area to provide more shade & rain shelter with a ‘Sit Ooterie’ to extend our open season until the end of September & perhaps beyond.

Considering a Season Ticket for next year? Why not get all of ’27  visits at this years prices by purchasing this weekend when admission is free for Heritage Open Days.

The Swallows, Swifts & Martins are gathering on overhead wires & feeding on insects above the seating  areas,  this years Robin chicks are almost fully grown  & have learnt that instant crumbs are available from visitors using outdoor coffee areas.   Our August ‘Hogs ‘ have settled in nicely & are ready & waiting at the feeding station most evenings. 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR GARDEN BUDDIES & VOLUNTEER HERE ?                   WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 9.30-12.30.                                                                                                    We provide tools, training & tea! Why not come along on TO FIND OUT MORE  check out VOLUNTEERING Link above.               

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

Volunteer Opportunities. If you’d like to join the team, are  fit enough to manage a wheelbarrow, enjoy spending time outdoors 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”          

 See VOLUNTEERS PAGE for more details. 

#Hedgehogs 
 Another 8 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   

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