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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 01/06/2020

Boroughbridge

Attractions prepare to open gates to visitors

by Vicky Carr

| 01 Jun, 2020

Both the Himalayan Gardens at Grewelthorpe and Newby Hall near Boroughbridge will open their gardens to pre-booked visitors this week. It follows RHS Harlow Carr seeing huge demand when it began offering online booking.

A one-way system and additional staffing will be implemented to enable Grewelthorpe's Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park to re-open tomorrow.

The visitor attraction - named Yorkshire in Bloom Tourist Attraction of the Year in 2018 and 2019 - features more than 80 outdoor sculptures around its grounds. Operations manager Naomi Hutchinson said it could only open if visitors follow social distancing guidelines:

“We believe that being outdoors and in beautiful gardens is restorative and important for people’s wellbeing. It can be a source of much-needed tranquillity in these super anxious times, and with 45 acres, the Himalayan Gardens offers the open space needed.

"We are however mindful that the safety of visitors and our staff is our number one priority. We’re pleased to welcome visitors and that they won’t miss out on the final blooms of spring, but our re-opening depends on all following the social distancing rules.”

The gardens' new one-way system has been created using natural materials including stones, plant pots and wooden signs. While public toilets will be open, with social distancing in place, and plants will be on sale, the tea rooms will remain closed for the first week.

A booking system will also be in place to control numbers, so visitors will need to book in advance for a specified day via the attraction's website.

Huge demand

Meanwhile, Newby Hall is set to open its grounds from Wednesday for season ticket holders, and from Saturday for the public. Its other attractions, including the railway, restaurant and teddy bears exhibition, will remain closed, and additional safety measures will be in place for visitors, including more toilets.

Booking will be essential, with slots set to go on sale on Newby Hall's website on Tuesday, June 2.

Newby Hall and the Himalayan Gardens are the latest tourist attractions to announce they are opening their gates. RHS Garden Harlow Carr last week saw huge demand for access to its grounds as it opened bookings on its website.

The National Trust has not yet opened its properties in the Harrogate district, but slots to visit others around the country sold out quickly last week.

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