Mr Yorke’s Walled Garden: Afternoon delights of stunning 18th century walled garden in Yorkshire

The stunning, one-acre plot, was opened again by owners Dennis and Marcia McLuckie to support MayFest, now an established weekend of music dance and storytelling in the Richmond calendar.

Along with the musicians playing flute and harp, Richmond artist Judi Allinson sat painting and offered examples of her work for sale, while local charity and social enterprise, Just the Job sold plants from their garden, to raise funds for their Big Green Build project, to improve the facilities for work-based activities at their Gallowfields site.

Around 160 visitors raised £1,750 for next year’s Richmond MayFest.

Mrs McLuckie said it was a lovely afternoon and visitors enjoyed themselves listening to the music and strolling through the garden and they almost sold out of homemade cakes.

The 18th century walled garden was created by John Yorke II, who lived with his wife, Anne, in a 17th century mansion, which stood near the Green in Richmond by the banks of the River Swale.

Their North Yorkshire estate included the house, stables (now Yorke Square car park on the Green), formal gardens, the walled kitchen garden, the Green Walk, Culloden Tower and Temple Grounds.

Mr Yorke’s mansion was demolished in the early 19th century, and the Walled Garden was later used as a market garden. In the 1980s it was planted with a variety of saplings that were to be grown on for sale, but many were left and are now mature.

Mr and Mrs McLuckie have retained trees and, where possible, the outline of the original paths, whilst restoring and redesigning the garden making new additions each year.

When the couple moved to the property, the garden was completely overgrown and over the years, they have cleared brambles, convolvulus and self-set plants and redesigned the layout to create an informal garden that is a world away from formalised planting schemes.

Mrs McLuckie enjoys what she describes as the ‘blowsy’, slightly uncontrolled feel of the garden.

“I love coming into the garden early in the morning, when the dew is on the grass and the birds are singing away,” she said.

“The garden feels fresh and lush and full of promise. I have lost count of the number of plants we have introduced from our local garden centres and as gifts from friends and family. We have some beautiful roses and this year has been fantastic for the crab apple, cherry and apple tree blossom.

“Dennis and I like to share the garden whilst raising money for local charities, such as MayFest and Just the Job.”

The garden extends to over an acre and is very informal with mature deciduous and coniferous trees, shrubs, fruit trees old and new, lawns, parterres, herbaceous borders, roses, ponds and a stream. and has been hailed as “a tranquil place to take time out from the bustle of life outside the tall, garden walls”.