Birkheads Secret Garden

Birkheads Secret Garden has been on my to do list for a while, so it was great to finally visit one Saturday morning.

The gardens were created by owners Christine and Mike Liddle and it was Christine who greeted me when I arrived. I had a lovely warm welcome and was told the best route around the 12 gardens, which were very clearly marked. Christine also told me how the three acre gardens were formed and explained that if I had any questions about any of the plants, I could take a photo and she would fill me in on what the plants and flowers were at the end. There were so many interesting plants I had never seen before, I would have been on all day. (Sadly I had to head off for the biggest afternoon tea I have ever seen, but I'll definitely be back!)

The 12 gardens all have a theme and there are some standouts including the Meditation Garden with it's picturesque pond full of wildlife. Christine told me they have Great Crested Newts there and there are also water beetles and dragonflies living on the pond.

The Bowes Garden is another lovely area which pays tribute to the mining and railway heritage of Gateshead and County Durham. In 1826 George Stephenson built the Pontop-Jarrow (later Bowes) railway, and the line is now a cycle path and walkway, which runs just above Birkheads Gardens.

Another highlight of the gardens is The Wishing Tree. Apparently children discovered that if they hung a key on the tree and made a wish, the wish would come true. You can see many keys that have been hung already and the owners invite you to add your own.

Most of the gardens have been created using recycled materials, and the sculptures and features dotted around have all been upcycled. For this reason, and many others, the gardens have won a Green Tourism gold award, indicating a good environmentally friendly practice.

The gardens also have their own nursery, so there are a wide variety of plants to buy on site and there is also a small cafe selling coffees and cakes. I have it on good authority that the cakes are excellent.

A lovely little gem, with a peaceful atmosphere and you might even spot a deer or two in the nearby fields. For more information on prices and opening times, visit their website: Birkheads Secret Gardens.