RHS Garden Bridgewater BLOOMS DURING LOCKDOWN

Over the past 3 years, the Royal Horticultural Society has been working to transform a 154 acre site in Salford, Greater Manchester, into a world-class garden - RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Bridgewater’s development, the largest gardening project in Europe, combines inspirational garden design and contemporary architecture within the backdrop of the site’s rich history, to create a spectacular Garden in the heart of the North West.

Progress on site so far has been fantastic. By the beginning of the year, planting had begun in the magni;cent 11 acre Weston Walled Garden, the historic lake repaired and ready to be filled, and the Garden’s infrastructure including a brand new Welcome Building was taking shape. Until recently, the site was a flurry of activity with hundreds of volunteers and contractors on hand to get RHS Garden Bridgewater ready for its planned opening in July. However, like everyone across the UK, at the end of March we suddenly found ourselves in very di9erent circumstances. Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, we have taken the di:cult decision to delay the opening of RHS Garden Bridgewater to May 2021.

We have sadly had to send home our amazing volunteers for now, but a core team of horticultural staff has remained on site and, despite these challenging times, spirits are high. The Garden has burst into life: beautiful pops of colour form the likes of Camassia, Phlox, Magnolia and stunning Prunus specimens have given a new insight into how special RHS Garden Bridgewater will be when it opens next May.

The focus for the horticultural team during this time has been weeding, mulching and watering to keep the plants on site in the best possible health. They have also had to tackle the staggering task of planting 25,000 plants across the Garden – from honeysuckle in the Wellbeing Garden and an array of lilies in the Chinese Streamside Garden, to the National Collection of Nerines in the Paradise Garden.

Curator Marcus Chilton-Jones said: “Currently, the horticultural team are extremely busy planting up the last of the specimens scheduled to go in the ground this spring. Their collective attentions will then turn towards a variety of tasks including: sowing several areas of the garden with green manures to improve fertility, the herculean task of watering and weeding the <edgling planting schemes and cultivating ground in readiness for the second wave of planting scheduled for this autumn.”

Photos by Mark Waugh

When the time is right, we look forward to bringing back our volunteers and resuming Bridgewater’s innovative social prescribing programme, and community outreach and education activities. Until then, the team will work be working to keep the Garden looking beautiful and prepare it for opening in May 2021; we can’t wait to welcome you to RHS Garden Bridgewater then.

As a charity, the RHS relies on your support through membership and donations to continue our charitable work, including the creation of RHS Garden Bridgewater. To find out more information or donate, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/bridgewater