A County Durham castle’s gardens have been recognised on the international stage for their ‘historic charm and thoughtful design’.
Raby Castle’s recently redesigned 18th-century walled gardens and wider landscape scheme earned second place in the Management or Development of a Historic Park or Garden category at the 2025 European Garden Awards.
The County Durham estate shares the runner-up position with South Cliff Gardens in the UK, while the top spot went to Promenades de Reims in France.
Alistair Baldwin, Lady Barnard and Lord Barnard (Image: Supplied)
Lady Barnard, creative director and custodian of Raby Castle and Estates, said: “We’re immensely proud to have achieved international recognition for the beautiful gardens and spaces throughout Raby Castle’s grounds and I’d like to extend my thanks and congratulations to both Luciano and Alistair.
“The spaces they have created are elegant, tranquil and perfectly encapsulate the fascinating heritage of Raby.”
The award celebrates the work of garden designer Luciano Giubbilei and landscape architect Alistair Baldwin, who collaborated with Lady Barnard to transform Raby Castle’s grounds as part of a three-year regeneration plan completed in 2024.
The Round House at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens (Image: Jason Ingram)
Mr Baldwin led the redesign of the castle’s public areas, while Mr Giubbilei worked with Lady Barnard on the walled gardens.
Since 2010, the European Garden Awards have honoured around 140 sites across 23 countries for excellence in historic garden conservation, contemporary design, and climate adaptation.
Raby Castle’s gardens are also in the running for the Historic Houses 2025 Garden of the Year Award, sponsored by Christie’s.
Raby Castle’s Walled Gardens (Image: Jason Ingram)
Dickon Harding, gardens and landscape manager at Raby Castle, said: “The gardens team have worked exceptionally hard to maintain the impressive vision of both Luciano and Lady Barnard, ensuring the five-acre space continues to flourish as they had hoped and envisaged.
“It’s been wonderful to see how the three different areas within the walled gardens have matured over the different seasons, and we feel an immense sense of pride that we get to work in such a peaceful and beautiful place, steeped in history.
“Winning the Garden of the Year Award would be a brilliant achievement and thank you to everyone who has already voted for Raby in this category.”
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Raby is one of eight finalists selected from hundreds of sites across the UK, all of which offer free entry to Historic Houses members.
Members of the public can support Raby Castle, Park and Gardens by voting in the Historic Houses 2025 Garden of the Year Award at www.historichouses.org/vote-goya.
More information about Raby Castle, Park and Gardens can be found at www.raby.co.uk/raby-castle.
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