The Cascade, Alnwick Gardens
The Cascade, Alnwick Gardens Image: Len Williams, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ornamental Garden, Alnwick Gardens
Ornamental Garden, Alnwick Gardens Image: Len Williams, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Water Feature, Alnwick Gardens
Water Feature, Alnwick Gardens Image: Mick Garratt, Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Flower Arbour, Alnwick Garden
Flower Arbour, Alnwick Garden Image: Len Williams, Geograph, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Alnwick Gardens

Landscaped gardens and major tourist attraction
Founded: 2002

Charity Details

Full Name: The Alnwick Garden Trust
Field: Environment and Animals
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Alnwick, NE66 1YU
Charity No: 1095435

History and Activities

The landscape design philosophy of working with nature, rather than against it, is credited to Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716-1783). Born in Kirkharle, near Morpeth, Brown is widely considered to be England’s greatest ever landscape gardener with 170 major projects to his credit. Brown was one of several important landscape gardeners who helped to lay out the grounds surrounding Alnwick Castle for Hugh Percy (1714-1786), 1st Duke of Northumberland, between 1750 and 1786. The belief that people are happiest when they are closest to nature informs every aspect of the work of the Alnwick Garden Trust and was behind the Percy Family’s decision in 2002 to restore the gardens and open them to the public. In 2016, the gardens received over 300,000 visitors and reached the finals of the Living North Tourism Awards.

The Alnwick Garden Trust has a bold vision to create a space that both attracts paying visitors but also supports projects that tackle important community issues. The ‘Roots & Shoots Healthy Living Project’, ‘Young Gardeners’ and the ‘Poison Garden Drugs Education Project’ use hands-on experiences of the garden to educate young people on how to grow and cook garden produce, develop horticultural skills for children with additional needs, and teaches the dangers of drug misuse. For adults, the garden provides volunteering opportunities that help in developing a greater understanding of gardening and practical skills. The continued development of the garden and delivery of vital programmes depends crucially on ticket sales, and as such, the Trust has made many bold moves to attract families, including a spectacular designer tree house.

The Alnwick Garden project is best thought of as an innovative exercise in social entrepreneurship, initiated and directed over many years by Jane Percy (b. 1958), the present Duchess of Northumberland, supported by her husband, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, Ralph George Algernon Percy (b. 1956), who donated the land and other assets necessary to get the project off the ground. Various trusts and foundations have generously supported a range of projects. Philanthropic donations constitute a relatively small but valuable source of operating income.

Vital Statistics (year to 31/03/2017)

Total Income (TI):
£4,701,680
Philanthropic Income (PI):
£106,533
PI as % of TI:
2.3%
Employees:
133  
Volunteers:
75
Charitable Spending:
£4,044,796
Investments at Year End:
0


Website
https://www.alnwickgarden.com/

References

Capability Brown. (2016). About Capability Brown, Available here (Accessed: 05/06/2018).

Companies House. (2018). The Alnwick Garden Trust – Officers, Available here (Accessed: 07/09/2018).

Alnwick Garden Trust. (2018). The elderberries programme, Available here (Accessed: 07/09/2018).