Birkheads Secret Garden

Landscape Gateshead Tyne And Wear

Birkheads Secret Garden

Landscape In Gateshead, Tyne And Wear

A series of 12 gardens set in 3 acres of land in rural Gateshead.

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 

  Add To Bucket List   I Have Visited This Place

Get 3 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 12 VIPs.

Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.

Where Is Birkheads Secret Garden

Where Is It?

What three words
mainly.mango.dove

Lat / Long
54.904525, -1.658301
Show Place On Google Maps


Where To Park?

What three words
tedious.lifeboats.brings

Lat / Long
54.905037, -1.657832

Show Parking On Google Maps

A small amount of parking is available on site.

Sandra Clemens

Contributed by Sandra Clemens

I love the great outdoors and have been a National Trust & English Heritage member for years. I also love going off the beaten track and finding places like Sharp's Folly or Rothley Castle which are hidden gems in Northumberland. My favourite recent hike was climbing Red Screes in the Lake District on a whim, not fully grasping how high 776m was. It was still an achievement to conquer a Wainwright walk and I hope to do more one day.

More Places In Gateshead

Find more fabulous places in Gateshead, Tyne And Wear and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
The Summerhill
Landmark Gateshead Tyne And Wear

An octagonal folly, once part of the Stella Hall estate in Blaydon.

Watergate Forest Park
Landscape Gateshead Tyne And Wear

24 hectare park with lake, woodland and waymarked paths in the heart of Gateshead.

Stargate Ponds
Landscape Gateshead Tyne And Wear

Small and pretty local nature reserve with lots of wildlife to see.

More Landscapes

So this landscape wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
South Marine Park
Landscape South Shields Tyne And Wear

A Victorian Public Park on South Shields seafront that is part of a 4km chain of parks.

Gosforth Nature Reserve
Landscape Gosforth Tyne And Wear

A nature reserve set within Gosforth Park where you can see birds, otters, deer and much more.

Chase Park
Landscape Whickham Tyne And Wear

Small park in the heart of Whickham, home to Whickham Windmill.

Fabulous North On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook

We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.

Share this Place!