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The Alnwick Garden & Lilidorei Friends Newsletter

Welcome to all our new members, and welcome back to those returning. We’re really happy to have you with us. 
 
Your support honestly means a lot to us. Every time you pop in, every smile, every moment you share with your family or friends, it helps make The Garden and Lilidorei feel like a place people genuinely connect with. You’re a big part of what gives this place its warmth. 
 
We love being part of your weekends, your traditions, your celebrations, and all those little spontaneous visits that turn into memories. 
 
Thanks for being here with us. We’re looking forward to another year filled with joy, discovery, and time spent 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 step into our 25th year, it feels like a real milestone and a good moment to pause and look at how far The Garden has come. What started as an ambitious idea has grown into a place full of life, creativity and shared memories, shaped by everyone who has visited, supported or worked here over the years.

There is a lot to look forward to this year. Alongside everything happening in The Garden, we’re also continuing to grow experiences like Lilidorei, which in a short space of time has captured imaginations and brought a different kind of energy to the site. Seeing families explore, children fully absorbed in play, and visitors finding their own way to enjoy the space is a reminder of what this place is all about. Alongside that, we’ve got a full programme of events across the year, with something for everyone to enjoy.

We hope this newsletter gives you a real sense of what’s coming up and encourages you to come back as often as you can. Your support as Friends means a huge amount. It allows us to keep developing, improving and continuing the journey we started 25 years ago, and we’re excited about what comes next.

Behind the Scenes: Rose Garden Restoration

Since January, our gardeners (alongside a dedicated team of volunteers) have been hard at work in The Rose Garden, going far beyond the usual January maintenance. As we celebrate 25 years of The Alnwick Garden, an exciting refresh is underway in partnership with David Austin Roses, focusing on two of The Garden’s largest beds.

To ensure The Rose Garden continues to flourish, older, woody plants were carefully removed to make way for more than 400 new rose varieties. With the soil now refreshed and the worst of the winter weather behind us, planting has been well underway over the past month. The Rose Garden formed part of the very first phase of The Garden and, remarkably, this is only the second time new roses have been introduced since it opened in 2001.

That same year saw the debut of the Alnwick Rose, unveiled by David Austin at the Chelsea Flower Show. Bred especially for The Alnwick Garden, this soft-pink shrub rose remains a firm favourite, selling out in our plant centre each year! Its fragrance is reminiscent of a classic Old Rose, with delicate notes of raspberry.

Read more

Spring Revisited

We’ve had a wonderful start to the season:

  • 329 Taihaku cherry trees burst into bloom, transforming The Garden into a cloud of soft white blossom and gifting us around two unforgettable weeks of pure spring beauty.

 

  • The much-loved Alnwick Duck Hunt also made its return, with over 100 brilliantly decorated ducks from the local community hidden across The Garden, ready to be discovered by curious explorers of all ages.

 

  • Over at Lilidorei, we met the Beetle King, joined in the enchanting Ritual of Renewal on the Village Green, and watched in awe as giant birds soared overhead.

And for those that were up for a challenge…the brand-new Quest of the King scavenger hunt had been testing adventurers throughout the season. Did you manage to complete it? 

Find Out More

What’s Upcoming at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei?

What’s On?
Wildlife Week

Help Reg the Hedge track mysterious animal footprints on an interactive trail, get creative in the Yurt by making paper beetles, and build your own plant pot room for the giant bug hotel.

Head to our Roots and Shoots Garden, free to enter, and visit The Apiary. Here you will be able to check out our live wildlife cameras around The Garden – what will you discover? You will also be able to catch a glimpse at the 20,000 newly arrived Pure Northumberland Dark Bees! 

23rd – 31st May 2026
Squiffle Squad at Lilidorei

At Lilidorei, the Squiffles are calling for brave helpers…and they need you!

Their toughest challenge awaits, crack the clues, solve clever puzzles, and outsmart the suspects to uncover whodunit. Think you’ve got what it takes?

22nd April – 31st May 2026 
Charlotte Tilbury Summer Masterclass

Get your summer glow on at a Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Masterclass at the The Alnwick Garden Pavilion this June 14th –  discover pro tips, fresh summer looks, and beauty secrets from the experts.
High Tea Bridgerton Themed Evening – 10% off for members!

The Alnwick Garden invites you to an unforgettable Bridgerton-themed High Tea evening, starting with a glass of Prosecco and elegant live music. Then enjoy delicate finger sandwiches, scones served with the richest creams and preserves and sweet confections

Sunday 12th July 2026 


Members get 10% off here
Dog Days – Thursdays and Sundays!

Can you spare 1 minute?

Please help us win £5,000 to support vulnerable children across Northumberland. Sparing 1 minute to nominate us as part of The Benefact Movement for Good funding could change lives. 

Right now, too many children are facing the devastating physical and emotional effects of childhood obesity, affecting not only their health, but their self esteem, mental wellbeing, and future opportunities.

A £5,000 award would help The Alnwick Garden towards delivering our life changing Roots & Shoots Programme, giving children and families from deprived areas the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make healthier choices for life.

Through hands on gardening, children experience the joy of growing their own food, tasting fresh fruits and vegetables, getting active outdoors, and learning that healthy living can be fun, achievable, and empowering. For some children, this programme is the first time they’ve planted a seed, harvested fresh produce, or felt proud of making positive choices about their own wellbeing.

Your vote could help us continue this vital work to change the course of a child’s future. Please spare 60 seconds to vote for us to receive £5,000, using the link, and help us give more children the opportunity to thrive

Thank you.

Nominations close on Sunday 24th May 2026 

Nominate us

Exclusive Discounts for Members

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