Gyles Brandreth to reopen Newby Hall rock garden after lengthy restoration project

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Newby Hall’s rock garden will be reopened by author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth this summer following a seven-year restoration.

Led by garden curator Lucinda Compton and head gardener Lawrence Wright, work to restore the 2,800-square-metre Edwardian rock garden, which was created before the First World War, began in 2019.

Over the years, more than 10,000 plants, bulbs, trees and shrubs have been planted, and the waterfall and aqueduct bridge have been restored. 

Hundreds of tonnes of soil have been replaced, with tonnes of gravel applied as mulch.

The new-and-improved garden will be officially unveiled on June 4 and Brandreth, host of Rosebud podcast and star of Celebrity Gogglebox, will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The official reopening will begin at 2pm on June 4. 

Brandreth's teddy bear collection, The Bear House, which was curated alongside his wife Michelle, is also on permanent display at Newby Hall.