Graham Wylie closes Chesters Walled Garden to public

Jul 4 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A near neighbour of English Heritage’s Chesters Roman fort, it was the walled garden of the adjacent Chesters mansion, once the home of 19th Century lawyer, Newcastle town clerk and antiquarian John Clayton.

Now Susie is looking for a site to create a new garden and to save as many of her plants as possible.

Ideally it would be smaller than two acres and have been cultivated recently.

“I have a lot of creative ideas and I am keeping a very open mind,” says Susie.

She is opening a Memories of the Garden book in which people can contribute through writing, photographs, short messages or any other medium, to give Susie a keepsake she can treasure.

She says: “ I know that this lovely old walled garden has touched many people and I would like to give them somewhere to express their feelings about the plants, wildlife, atmosphere and what it has meant to them.

“A book of memories seems just the right thing.”

The garden has a range of plants which provide nectar throughout the growing season and over the last 15 years a local ornithologist has recorded 70 different species of birds.

Susie is encouraging people to visit the garden before it closes.

“It want everyone to have the chance to see it. It changes radically from month to month and this will be the last July, August or whatever month people can see it.”

Tom Higgins is director of communications for Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, which helps look after the world heritage site.

He said: “We see the need for a varied offer of attractions for visitors from the Wall and forts to smaller independent ventures.

“At a time when Hadrian’s Wall is becoming more and more popular we are sad to see that diversity of offer being diminished. The people who run the garden have worked hard to build it up and it has helped attract visitors to the area.”

A spokesman for Chesters House estate said: “The garden is part of a private estate and it makes sense for it to come back into private hands.

“It has always been the intention to keep the estate private and the garden is very close to the main house.”

Anyone who can help Susie in the search for a site should contact 01434 681 483 or 07941077595.

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