Thirteen pockets of historic garden have been re-developed over the past four years by community groups working alongside the garden team at Wentworth Castle Gardens in South Yorkshire. The grade I-listed landscape is managed in partnership by the National Trust, Barnsley Council and Northern College and is a popular visitor attraction in the area.
The thirteen segments, are shaped as the Union Jack flag, literally growing into the hillside. It’s a significant historical part of the garden, thought to have been used by Thomas Wentworth to show, in plain sight, where his allegiances lay. Or, as a close advisor to Queen Anne, at the very least, it could be seen as a celebration of the union of England and Scotland.
Today, this gave the opportunity to have a modern twist and represent the current partnership, local community and garden experience in the 21st-century. Keeping the ‘formal wilderness’ style with high clipped hedges, each intimate section has been adopted by a group including local schools such as Barnsley Academy and Greenacre School; ‘Open Country’ who provide opportunities for those with a range of disabilities to engage with nature; ‘Feels Like Home’ who help migrant communities to feel at home in Barnsley and ‘Creative Recovery’ who use creativity to support mental health and recovery. Wentworth’s volunteer and outdoor teams have also taken on sections to leave their ongoing legacy to the place where they work and donate their time.
Ruth Wynters, Partnership and Participation Manager for the National Trust said, “It’s been a fascinating project to be involved with, the best part for me has been letting the ideas flow from those involved and seeing them become a reality. Now each space has taking on its own identity and I’m looking forward to watching them grow over time”.
Jess, one of the participants, from the Friends of Wombwell Cemetery said: “We’ve enjoyed working in our section and can’t wait to get the main elements finished off. Our highlights were designing the garden initially, working on the information panel, and seeing the garden very quickly come together once we made a start”.
Jess continued: “The project has made us all really pull together as a group. It’s brought us together, especially when naming the garden, and has been refreshing to work somewhere else as a team”.
The project was supported and funded by the National Trust, Barnsley Council and legacy gifts left in wills from National Trust supporters. Initial workshops were held to help with budget planning, artistic ideas and designs that capture the groups intentions whilst maintaining the integrity of the historical feature. Expect to find areas linked to nature, spaces for reflection, a celebration of wildlife, a living testimony to a journey to get to these shores and a simple passion to grow things. The paths have had their own facelift, and with the addition of a new motorised tramper, the area has improved access and is now open to visitors, adding to the year-round interest of this series of gardens, within a garden.
Ruth went on to say, “Apparently Thomas Wentworth told his son and heir William, that if he ever destroyed this part of the garden, he would return to haunt him. I’m thrilled we can let him continue to rest in peace and hopefully he would approve of the current day twist to his original design”.
Wentworth Castle Gardens is open daily, plan your visit: Wentworth Castle Gardens | South Yorkshire | National Trust
