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RHS Garden Bridgewater is finally opening next month – and Salford residents can visit for free

The RHS is expecting the new attraction to generate around £13.2 million per year to the local economy by 2030.

Emily Sergeant - 13th April 2021

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally been confirmed that RHS Garden Bridgewater is to open its gates to the public in May.

As many Greater Manchester residents will know, the opening of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) newest £44 million garden attraction – which is located off Leigh Road in Worsley – has been delayed on a number of occasions due to ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but now it’s been revealed that visitors will be welcomed for the first time from Tuesday 18th May.

The 154-acre garden at the former Worsley New Hall estate is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017, and is set to boast world-class horticultural inspiration and expertise as the first-ever RHS Garden to be located in an urban area.

The RHS is expecting the new attraction to generate around £13.2 million per year to the local economy by 2030, and has created over 100 jobs at the site.

50% of the roles created have been filled by people living within five miles of the garden.

RHS Garden Bridgewater is aiming to be a beacon of gardening inspiration, education and engagement in the heart of the North West, and will feature cutting-edge design by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winners, alongside a collection of dedicated community spaces.

Visitors will have the chance to discover areas including the 11-acre Weston Walled Garden – believed to be the largest publicly-accessible working walled garden in the UK – as well as the spectacular Paradise Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith, which showcases exotic planting inspired by Asiatic and Mediterranean gardens, and the nearby Kitchen Garden by award-winning Harris Bugg Studio which boasts a cornucopia of productive growing techniques, and both familiar and more unusual edibles.

The Community Wellbeing Garden, Community Grow area and Peel Learning Garden are just some of the community-focused spaces that can also be found within the Weston Walled Garden.

There’s also the Chinese Streamside Garden – which will be the first authentic Chinese garden in the UK when complete – and the four-acre Woodland Play area to explore, which is designed to encourage children of all ages to engage with nature.

Speaking ahead of the grand opening, Sue Biggs – RHS Director General – said: “RHS Garden Bridgewater is the result of years of hard work by a dream team of designers, gardeners, contractors and many, many others and we are all enormously proud of what we have created.

“Together with our partners and donors, including Salford City Council and The Peel Group, we are thrilled to finally be able to celebrate this monumental achievement on May 18”.

Keen to grab tickets?

Tickets for the highly-anticipated opening on Tuesday 18th May are set to go on sale on Monday 19th April, with the park open Monday to Sunday, from 10am – 6pm.

All visitors will need to pre-book a time slot, with last entry at 5pm.

That’s not all though, as all Salford residents will be able to visit RHS Garden Bridgewater free on Tuesdays only from 25th May for the first year thanks to an arrangement agreed between the RHS and Salford City Council.

Tickets will still need to be booked online, and proof of your Salford address will be required on arrival.

You can find more information ahead of opening via the RHS Garden Bridgewater website here.

Featured Image – RHS Garden Bridgewater