When you think of the word Duchess, the words frumpy, Laura Ashley print dresses, the words “awfully nice†and so forth tend to come to mind!
So, when The Mole met leading UK gardener the Duchess of Northumberland, earlier this week, in Sydney to present a talk on the world-renowned ‘Alnwick Garden’, it was somewhat of a shock to find a young contemporary woman wearing American style suede cowboy boots and trendy clothes!
[Pictured right: The Duchess of Northumberland in Sydney’s Royal Botanical Garden]
The Mole was also amazed to hear that The Duchess of Northumberland, a keen gardener and the visionary behind the UK’s renowned Alnwick Garden, was in Sydney for only one night to talk about these extraordinary new gardens in a talk hosted by the Friends of The Botanic Gardens.
Another amazing discovery was that the mother of four, with the eldest thought to be the only female gun machinist in the UK, currently working in London and 22yrs, had been in Hong Kong for I think one night, Auckland for two nights and Sydney for one night before heading back home on Emirates from Sydney, via Dubai to Newcastle. The ultimate whistle-stop tour!
Alnwick Garden is described as Britain’s most talked-about public garden having been developed at a cost of ₤35.1 million and heralded as one of the world’s most spectacular gardens of the modern era attracting over 600,000 visitors each year, despite being only two-thirds complete.
Located between the market town of Alnwick and the grounds of Alnwick Castle in north-east England, the first phase of the 12-acre garden opened in October 2002, consisting of the grand cascade, the largest water feature of its kind in the UK, the rose garden and the ornamental garden.
The second phase, which was officially opened by the garden’s patron HRH The Prince of Wales, encompassed a number of major construction projects, including the world’s largest wooden tree house, the UK’s only public poison garden, which grows plants such as cannabis and cocoa under lock and key and a unique set of water sculptures that combines physics with the arts and an imposing pavilion designed by renowned architect Sir Michael Hopkins.
For more information visit: http://www.alnwickgarden.com
If you get chance to either hear The Duchess speak or to visit Alnwick, do not hesitate, both are great experiences.
A Report by The Mole
