New gardening collaboration is unveiled alongside after-hours tours
Raby Castle’s Walled Garden in June 2024. Credit Jason Ingram
A medieval castle, said to have one of the best gardens to visit for a great day out, is to host special evenings opening this March for after-hours tours of its grounds and the launch of another attraction designed to appeal to garden-lovers. Raby Castle in County Durham – whose stunning gardens are, as previously reported, a huge hit with visitors – will be unveiling a new collection that is out to fully embrace spring and summer.
The medieval castle, at Staindrop near Darlington, has teamed up with British countryside-inspired brand Garden Trading and at a late-night shopping event on March 19 it will be showing off the results of the collaboration. The launch night date – “perfectly timed before the spring equinox” it says – will be a chance for visitors to browse the new hand-picked home and garden range which will feature dining room and homeware products alongside outdoor furniture such as bistro tables, pots and accessories.
The launch will be celebrated with prosecco and there also will be out-of-hours garden tours. Then, a separate event the next night will also offer an evening garden tour, taking in the sunset and birdsong, to mark the spring equinox.
The Garden Trading residency will be running in Raby’s conservatory, which is within its 18th Century restored Walled Gardens, until late summer. Stephanie Goss, retail manager at Raby Castle, said: “This is a collaboration I’ve been aspiring towards for well over a year and we are incredibly excited to be bringing this to Raby.”
The Garden Trading residency will be running in the conservatory near Raby’s Walled Garden until the summer
A second display will feature in The Coach House shop and the March 19 launch night will have Garden Trading representatives on hand to offer advice. Richard Bell, the company’s managing director, said the team has enjoyed “pulling together a curated range we feel will resonate” with Raby visitors.
The launch will run from 4pm to 7pm with 20% off purchases plus a free bud vase for buys over £30. After that, the residency will be open daily between 11am and 3pm.
Running alongside it will be seasonal bouquets and floral workshops on offer at florist Periwinkle Barn in the Potting Sheds near to the conservatory. For more information and to book free tickets for the launch see here.
The following spring equinox event, an after-hours walk on March 20, will be a special evening in the company of Raby’s head gardener. Besides offering a chance to watch the sunset and hear the birds singing, there will be the opportunity to hear about the history and story of the remodelled Walled Gardens.
These gardens, an oasis of calm, whatever the time of year, have won acclaim at the European Garden Awards and also from Historic Houses. It is also rated by Great British Gardens as one of the ‘four best gardens to visit in Durham for a great day out’.
At the March 20 walk, there will be plenty opportunities to ask questions and the evening will wrap up with a herbal tea in the amphitheatre. For tickets, £18, see here and for usual admission costs to Raby Castle, Park and Gardens see here.
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