Duchess' garden has 'enormous' impact in 25 years

4 hours ago

Tom MacDougallNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Alnwick Garden volunteer Sue Simpson, next to its charity CEO Mark Brassell, has been part of its team since 2001

Alnwick Garden Sue Simpson, has a bob of white hair and is wearing a vibrant outfit of neon pastel blues and pinks. She is standing next to Mark Brassell, who has a shaved head and is wearing a black polo shirt and grey blazer. Sue has her arm around Mark's waist and he has his hand on her shoulder. There is a wall, plants and purple flowers behind them. — Alnwick Garden volunteer Sue Simpson, next to its charity CEO Mark Brassell, has been part of its team since 2001

One of the longest-serving volunteers at a garden developed by the Duchess of Northumberland says it has had an "enormous" impact on the local town, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Alnwick Garden was opened in 2001 by Duchess Jane Percy on formerly derelict land at Alnwick Castle, with the charity that runs it hosting community programmes including a community fridge, Alzheimer's support group, and gardening schemes.

Sue Simpson, who joined during its construction in the 1990s and helps run a group to combat loneliness in elderly residents, said the garden had become "a whole part of being me".

"From the start, her Grace wanted it to be our garden, and she maintained that," she said.

She joined the team because she was a friend of the project director, the late Ian August, who looked after Northumberland Alnwick Estates and was drawn away from retirement by the duchess after she asked for his help.

"I thought it was brilliant, Alnwick is a wonderful and magical town, and I thought this was - for the first time - a garden grown with the community in mind," she said.

Alnwick Garden An aerial view of part of the huge garden. This section sees a cascading water fountain cutting through the centre of a neatly mowed lawn, lined by pristinely shaped hedges and outstretching trees. In the distance, we can see a stone archway entrance to the site. — The garden was developed by the Duchess of Northumberland Jane Percy

In 2015, she said she was approached by the duchess directly, who told her there was "a lot of loneliness and isolation" in the town they could help combat.

The charity set up the Elderberries programme, which offers support to residents over the age of 55, with Sue running its drop-in centre at the garden.

"You're coming to your own room, and you can stay either five minutes or five hours - and we just talk," she said.

She said it could be "vitally important" for those residents, with some living alone and others having no family still alive.

About 30 people attend on an average weekday, she said.

"The garden is so integrated into the town, it's had an enormous revenue," she said.

Alnwick Garden A group of elderly locals are sitting around a table. They all wear jumpers or cardigans and are drinking tea or coffee from mugs with flowers on them. In the background, there are similar groups around more tables. The space is mocked up to look like a living room, with bookshelves and a fireplace down the back wall. There is also a TV, which reveals they are listening to Smooth Radio. — The garden runs various projects for senior residents in the town to combat loneliness

Charity CEO Mark Brassell said: "It's such a great thing to be part of because of the variety and depth of the impact we've got."

He said around 10,000 a year were supported by various different programmes hosted at or by the garden.

Looking ahead, he said to expect "more of the same".

"The duchess is not finished," he said, adding there were plans to extend the garden - including its poisonous section, dubbed "the UK's deadliest garden".

"The ambition's there for us to continue this, it never stands still - it's a force for community good," he said.