To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve created an audio tour.
The Alnwick Garden is a unique project, with a world-class design of beautiful gardens, features and structures. There are also many fascinating tales to tell, which the Duchess will share with you as she guides you around the landscape. You’ll also find out more about the about the site’s history and the plans for the future.
Each chapter of the audio tour relates to a part of The Garden.
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – The Pavilion and Visitor Centre Discover more about the history of the Walled Garden, and previous gardens on the site
Chapter 3 – The Grand Cascade Hear about the design and technology behind the largest water feature of its kind, and the building challenges
Chapter 4 – The Ornamental Garden Learn the secrets of maintaining a densely planted garden from head gardener Derek Horton
Chapter 5 – The Rose Garden Find out more about the roses, including the Alnwick Rose
Chapter 6 – The Bamboo Labyrinth Discover the meaning of the Labyrinth’s inscription ‘Only
dead fish swim with the stream’
Chapter 7 – The Serpent Garden Discover how the Duchess and William Pye began working together
Chapter 8 – The Poison Garden Hear what inspired the Duchess’s vision for the Poison Garden, and how the gardeners work with the dangerous plants
Chapter 9 – The Treehouse Learn more about the Duchess’s ideas for The Treehouse, and The Garden’s approach to education
Chapter 10 – The Woodland Walk Discover more about the future plans for The Garden’s development
Podcasts
In our monthly podcasts, find out about what happens behind the scenes at The Alnwick Garden, hearing from the people who make it happen.
Our first podcast
Hear from the Duchess to find out about the thousands of bulbs planted each spring, and learn more about the cannabis plant. Catch up with head gardener Derek Horton, and learn how the team stakes the plants in the Ornamental Garden. Hear about the role The Garden plays in the regeneration of the area, and its award-winning loos!
August’s podcast
Hear the Duchess’s plans for a spectacular lighting programme in The Garden, and news of the Reality Tour that brought school children face to face with the realities of drug abuse. Listen to find out if the head gardener will reveal the secret ingredient that makes the roses grow so well, and discover how you can hire The Garden for your own special event.
September’s podcast
Hear the Duchess’s plans to take the Poison Garden to America, and the progress made in finding a lighting company able to bring world-class technology into a garden setting. Find out what’s interesting in The Garden in September, and about Living Statues, a unique outdoor exhibition.
October’s podcast
The Alnwick Garden has contributed to the regeneration of a rural community, hear more about the impact The Garden is having from the Duchess. Deputy head gardener, Derek Guthrie shares his October plant highlights, and Mike Dukes, managing director tells us about The Garden’s local sourcing philosophy. Find out about the fantastic family programme of events and activities for October and Halloween.
November’s podcast
The Garden makes a great winter day out, with Magical Christmas events for all the family. Hear from the Duchess about the plans to make The Garden an even more exciting place for winter, with a beautiful skating rink and a Scandinavian-themed grotto. Derek Guthrie tells you how to make leaf mould to use on your garden, and find out how the stories told in the Poison Garden were discovered.
December’s podcast
The Alnwick Garden is lucky enough to have a dedicated team of volunteers who generously give their time to help with many of the jobs needed to run The Garden, from gardening to guiding to office work. Hear from Gill Parker, volunteer guide co-ordinator, about being part of The Garden team. The Duchess tells you about a recent fundraising trip to Chicago, and find out what the gardeners are up to in December. Learn more about how The Garden's marketing team communicates with potential visitors, and hear what's coming up in December.
January 2008 podcast
Venture underground to meet The Pavilion’s head chief Andy Malcolm, and hear more about The Garden’s local sourcing policy from retail manager Debbie Potter. Find out how The Garden has become home to popular monthly Tea Dance, and what makes a typical day for the Duchess.
February 2008 podcast
Meet the newest member of The Garden’s team; head of community development James Glover. His job is to help a wider range of people use The Garden, by building relationships with groups and communities. You’ll also meet Graeme, a local young man who was unemployed before joining The Garden’s visitor services team, and who never expected to work for a garden. Hear what The Garden’s got planned for Easter.
March 2008 podcast
Hear about the Duchess’s trip to Hong Kong, Austrailia and New Zealand, and find out how a Duchess is treated on the other side of the world. Meet our new head gardener Trevor Jones to find out how he is settling in and his plans for the future, and catch up with Kelvin Gallaugher The Treehouse head chef.
April 2008 podcast - The Cherry Orchard
Hear all about The Garden’s remarkable first step in Phase Three; the planting of the Cherry Orchard. The Duchess shares her vision for this peaceful, less formal area of the landscape. Ian August describes the design and planning process, while head gardener Trevor Jones shares his enthusiasm for the beautiful Tai Haku cherry tree.
We’ll be updating this page with new podcasts each month, so keep visiting.
