Explore the 'secret gardens' green oasis tucked away from busy town

Greater Manchester is home to a plethora of stunning parks, gardens and green spaces just waiting to be discovered. While some are well-known - such as Heaton Park or Fletcher Moss - there are others that remain hidden gems.

One such gem is Walkden Gardens, a charming green oasis tucked away off Marsland Road in Sale. The gardens are divided into different 'rooms', each boasting unique features, essentially forming 'gardens within gardens'.

Perhaps the most eye-catching feature is the wisteria arch, which stretches over 70ft long, offering a breathtaking covered walkway that immerses visitors in nature. Intriguingly, the garden also features a 'Theatre Lawn' used for events, including performances of plays like Macbeth and a Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

There's the Fuchsia Garden, with its neatly clipped box hedging, the Conifer Garden and the Dovecote Garden, which houses the romantic-looking Dovecote structure. This structure originally stood within the grounds of Sale Old Hall but was preserved when the hall was demolished in the 1920s.

Following the expansion of the M60, it was relocated and rebuilt at Walkden Gardens, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Another 'room' is the Japanese Garden, maintained with the help of the Japanese Garden Society. It's divided into three sections, separated by bamboo screens and archways, and includes a dry landscape garden with rocks and gravel symbolising islands and a lake.

Walkden Gardens, owned by Trafford Council and maintained in partnership with the Friends Group of volunteers, is named after Harry Walkden, a former plant nursery owner at the site. The gardens draw inspiration from the renowned 20th-century garden at Hidcote Manor in Gloucester.

During summer, the gardens are accessible from 9am to 7.30pm (be sure to check opening times as they are locked at night). The entrance to the complimentary car park is on Derbyshire Road, with bus stops available on Marsland Road.

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