The Alnwick Garden & Lilidorei Friends Newsletter

Hello, Friends!

Welcome to your Autumn/Winter edition newsletter. Whether you’ve recently joined us or have been a member with us for some time, we’re so glad you’re here.

We love sharing in the moments that make your visits special. From much-loved traditions and family days out to celebrations, catch-ups and those spontaneous visits that turn into wonderful memories.

This year is particularly special as we celebrate a major milestone of 25 years, and we’re excited to share the celebrations with you.

Thank you for being part of our community. We look forward to plenty more happy moments, new discoveries and memories made together.

Exclusive Membership Perks:

Your membership not only supports the ongoing care of The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei, but also opens the door to a range of exclusive benefits designed to make your experience even more magical:

– Unlimited access during seasonal opening hours to your chosen membership location
– 20% discount on additional standard day tickets
– Free car parking
– Members discount dining and food outlets
– Receive discounts in The Alnwick Garden Gift Shops – save 10% on selected items
– Early bird access and discounted rates on our Winter Lights and other selected events

Scroll down to access some of your exclusive membership offers.

A message from Mark, our CEO

As we approach the 25th anniversary of The Alnwick Garden, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Friends for your continued support. You have played an important role in helping The Garden grow from an ambitious vision into a place that has touched millions of lives.

Over the past 25 years, The Alnwick Garden has welcomed more than 9 million visitors and generated an estimated £400 million of economic value for the wider economy, with £191 million retained within Northumberland. However, our success is measured by far more than visitor numbers alone. Through our charitable programmes, we have supported older people experiencing isolation, helped young people develop confidence and skills, created learning opportunities for schools and families, and provided pathways into employment for those who need a helping hand.

The Garden has always sought to be a place where beauty, imagination and community come together. Whether through our wellbeing programmes, education initiatives, climate action work, volunteer activity or support for local artists, businesses and community groups, we remain committed to enriching lives and strengthening the communities we serve.

None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you for being part of our journey so far. As we celebrate this milestone and look towards the future, we hope you will continue to share in the next chapter of The Alnwick Garden’s story.

Warm regards,

Mark

Introducing our new Head Gardener!

My name is Lachlan Rae and I am very proud to have been recently appointed as Head Gardener of The Alnwick Garden. The role of Head Gardener provides plenty of variety and the scope of work is entirely endless. My primary concern is to ensure the gardening team are enabled to continue to present the garden in a way that impresses and inspires The Alnwick Garden community. With such a wide array of comings and goings around the property, I inevitably become involved at various levels in some of the projects, events and community initiatives as well as some of the more obscure happenings that the garden seems to attract.

The opportunity to lead The Garden into its next chapter was one of great surprise. My career has been devoted to Horticulture in various guises and assuming a position of notoriety in a leading garden is what I have been working towards. Receiving my training at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and working in private estates in Scotland, West Sussex and Lancashire, I have had the fortune of being offered a wide scope of gardening opportunities. Before coming to The Garden, I was most recently working for a firm who designed, constructed, landscaped and maintained natural swimming pools and ponds.

What particularly excites me is the upcoming phase of work in The Rose Garden on which I have been recently collaborating with David Austin Roses to fine tune on the details. We have various new planting aspirations for the Poison Garden and I have been particularly enjoying working alongside the peerless Poison Garden team. One of the most indulgent things within my job at this time of year is browsing the bulb catalogues and I would certainly expect us to be planting a few nice spring bulbs this autumn.

With us moving forward from summer into autumn and winter, The Garden will start to change pace. Summer offers abundance of flowers and many shades of green but in the autumn and winter garden we must challenge ourselves to champion The Garden’s senescence. Autumn is particularly easy with vibrant displays of coloured leaves but winter can be a challenge. Beautiful structural and landscape elements are where The Garden will perform well into the bleakest winter months.

My team have been incredibly supportive since my arrival and have been working well to keep The Garden looking the way it’s supposed to look- World Leading!

Upcoming Events at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei

Autumn Events

Celebrate 25 Years of The Alnwick Garden

To mark this special anniversary, we’re bringing together a weekend packed with entertainment, activities, music and plenty of surprises.

Discover the story behind The Garden with unseen footage, enjoy rides, games and performances throughout the day, then watch as The Garden comes alive after dark.

Each evening, there’ll be fire jugglers, L.E.D. stilt performers, bubbleologists and a spectacular Grand Cascade water display featuring screens, lights, lasers and fireworks

There’s plenty to keep you fuelled throughout the weekend, with food and drink vendors serving up pizza, hot dogs, waffles, Pimm’s and more

Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th October*

Members can enjoy free access to the event but must pre-reserve their space –

Evening Members Booking Click Here

Daytime Members Booking Click Here

A quick note for dog owners: Dogs are welcome until 5pm on Sunday 4th October, as usual during our dog-friendly days. However, as there will be fireworks taking place during the evening celebrations, unfortunately, dogs will not be able to attend the evening event***

If you need to leave with your dog, you will be permitted readmission if you wish to return for the evening celebrations.

*Please note Thursday 1st October is just daytime only. From Friday – Sunday you can enjoy daytime and evening activities.

** All Garden members, Annual Pass Holders and Lilidorei-only members can book a free ticket for the evening event. Garden members and Annual Pass Holders can book a free daytime ticket. If a Lilidorei-only member would like to visit The Garden during the day, they will need to purchase a valid Garden entry ticket.

*** Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome to attend. However, as the event will include fireworks, we strongly encourage owners to consider whether the environment will be suitable and comfortable for their dog.

Spookydorei Days at Lilidorei

Spookydorei Nights – Members Booking

Pumpkin Garden at The Alnwick Garden

Dog Days at The Alnwick Garden are every Thursday and Sunday throughout autumn!

Bring your furry friend along to The Garden every Thursday and Sunday this autumn and enjoy the perfect seasonal adventure together*

Just a friendly reminder that Dog Days will come to an end for the season from 16 November 2026. From this date, dogs will unfortunately no longer be able to visit The Garden while our Winter Lights display is in place.

For full details on our dog days, please click here

Winter Events

Christmas 2026

Members enjoy exclusive rates on Winter Lights and Father Christmas tickets, book your festive visit here!

Book Now

Exclusive Discounts for Members