Prior Park Landscape Garden, a National Trust garden in Bath, will be opening its gates late on Saturday 18 July to celebrate the site being open to the public for 30 years.
Image: Palladian Bridge at Prior Park Landscape Garden, credit National Trust
The landscape garden was created in the 18th century by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from 'Capability' Brown and the poet Alexander Pope. Set in a sweeping valley above Bath, visitors can enjoy magnificent views over the city and many Georgian landscape garden features. It is home to one of only four Palladian bridges in the world.
The garden was later part of Prior Park College, before being acquired by the National Trust in 1993. Since then, the National Trust has been restoring the landscape garden to its 1764 state, which was the year of Ralph Allen’s death.
Rodney has been volunteering at Prior Park for more than 30 years. In that time, he has worked with multiple National Trust Head Gardeners and many more volunteers. "I offered to volunteer at Prior Park in autumn 1994, having just taken early retirement, soon after the National Trust acquired the garden, which was very overgrown and neglected. I worked initially at the top of the garden, below the College, endeavouring to uncover the routes of the original paths, the extent of the Cabinet, and the watercourses and collapsed culverts.”
It took a few years to get the garden to a state where it was fit to welcome visitors, opening finally in summer 1996. Since Prior Park opened to the public, the National Trust has continued with its aim to restore the garden to its 1764 state. An example of this is the major work to the dams, which had suffered both from time and the presence of American signal crayfish. Other work undertaken has been with visitors in mind, such as the reopening of the lower entrance and creation of the Tea Cabin and outdoor seating area.
Of his role as National Trust volunteer at Prior Park, Rodney said, “Over the intervening years I have seen the emergence of the beautiful landscape that we now enjoy, and following the rebuilding of the Lower Dam a considerable amount of plant reinstatement was needed, but the current volunteer role is for upkeep, renewal and maintenance. I feel very lucky to have been involved in such a rewarding project."
Tom Boden has been the General Manager at Prior Park Landscape Garden for 12 years. He said: “Prior Park is such a special place – a hidden Georgian garden with the world-famous Palladian bridge, wonderful views and amazing nature, all within the World Heritage City of Bath. Since opening 30 years ago, the garden has welcomed countless visitors from near and far who have marvelled in the beauty and tranquillity of the garden. After 12 years as General Manager, I am still blown away by the magic of this place, having seen it through the seasons, heat waves, heavy snow and the challenges of restoring the 18th-century dams and lakes. We look forward to many more people discovering Prior Park Landscape Garden in the years to come.”
To celebrate 30 years of being open to the public under the National Trust’s care, the lower garden will open after hours for an evening of celebration, to include food and music. All ages are welcome.
The event will take place Saturday 18 July from 5.30pm-8pm, and entry/exit will be via the garden's lower entrance only. Pre-booking is advised as spaces are limited. Tickets are free for National Trust members. For non-members, entry is £5 for adults and £2.50 for under 18s (under 5s free). Tickets can be booked on the Prior Park Landscape Garden website here or by ringing +44 (0)344 249 1895.
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